20/09/2026
GOVERNANCE 360 | ROOTS 8.0 — WHEN GOVERNANCE MEETS THE GROUND
What happens when we stop talking about development and start listening to the people living it?
At ROOTS 8.0 – The Echoes Within, NIT Rourkela, we had the privilege of experiencing exactly that.
Through an insightful conversation with Rakesh Ranjan Biswal, we travelled beyond classrooms and policy documents into the hills of Koraput and the lived realities of tribal communities.
We explored livelihoods, culture, government policies, development models, implementation challenges, and the realities of grassroots governance.
But one message stood above the rest:
Education can break cycles.
Education isn't just about becoming literate.
It is about becoming aware.
Aware of your rights.
Aware of opportunities.
Aware of your choices.
Aware enough to question.
And empowered enough to make decisions that can transform an entire community.
The discussion also touched upon a difficult reality how lack of education, limited opportunities and lack of awareness can reinforce a cycle of vulnerability, where harmful practices such as intoxication can become difficult to break.
And that raised a powerful question:
How do we break a cycle that keeps repeating itself?
The answer isn't simply a scheme.
It isn't simply a policy.
And it certainly isn't simply a speech.
It requires education + awareness + opportunity + participation.
It requires communities to work alongside institutions, understand the opportunities available to them, challenge limiting mindsets, and become active participants in their own development.
Because real development isn't just about building infrastructure.
It's about building confidence, awareness and the ability to choose a better future.
A heartfelt thank you to Rakesh Ranjan Biswal for bringing these realities to NIT Rourkela and reminding us that behind every policy, every scheme and every development model are real people, real challenges and real aspirations. 🇮🇳
Governance 360 wasn't just an event.
It was a reminder that lasting change begins with awareness—and grows from the ROOTS. 🌱
Organised by:
🤝 THINK INDIA – NIT ROURKELA
📍 NIT Rourkela
🎙️ Governance 360
