ASBM University confers Honorary Doctorate in Development Management on Jagadananda, Co-founder of CYSD, for 40+ years of work with Odisha’s communities
OdishaPlus Bureau
At its 5th Convocation held at the Bhubaneswar campus, ASBM (Asian School of Business Management) University conferred the Honorary Doctoral Degree in Development Management on Jagadananda, Co-founder of Centre for Youth and Social Development (CYSD). The honour recognises four decades of work with Odisha’s tribal groups, distressed migrants, urban poor, and disaster-affected communities.
“Government must deepen investments in tribal empowerment, safe migration, urban resilience, and disaster preparedness, these are not options, but urgent necessities.”
The Asian School of Business Management (ASBM) University has conferred the Honorary Doctoral Degree in Development Management on Shri Jagadananda, Co-founder of CYSD, in recognition of his more than four decades of pioneering work with tribal groups, distressed migrants, the urban poor, and disaster-affected communities in Odisha.
The honour was conferred at the 5th Convocation of ASBM University, held at its Bhubaneswar campus in the august presence of Prof. Biswajeet Pattanayak, President of ASBM University, and Justice Bidyut Ranjan Sarangi, former Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court and currently Member of the National Human Rights Commission along with Dr. Subhransu Sekhar Acharya, CMD, National Small Industries Corporation of India.
Odisha is home to over 9 million tribal citizens (23% of the state’s population), many of whom remain socially and economically marginalized. Each year, more than 1 million people migrate in distress to other states in search of livelihood. The state has also faced 15 major cyclones and countless floods over the past two decades, underscoring the urgency of disaster preparedness and resilience-building.
Accepting the honour, Shri Jagadananda said:
“This degree is not just a personal recognition but a tribute to the resilience and courage of the people of Odisha. Their struggles and aspirations have been my greatest teachers, and whatever I have been able to contribute has been possible only because of the solidarity of colleagues, friends, and partners.”
On this occasion, he called upon governments to strengthen inclusive policies for tribal empowerment, ensure safe and dignified migration, build resilient urban systems, and invest in disaster preparedness. He also appealed to the academic community to bridge research with grassroots realities, nurture young leaders in development management, and foster innovation in community-driven solutions.
“I dedicate this honour to the people of Odisha, their resilience, courage, and unyielding hope will continue to inspire every step of my journey.”