New Delhi, July 31: A think tank focusing on Odisha's socio-economic development has floated the idea of having a dedicated set-up to co-ordinate with foreign countries and eminent Odias abroad on affairs related to the state.

At a seminar organised here yesterday by the Odisha Forum, former ambassador to Argentina Amarendra Khatua said the Odisha government should appoint a commissioner to work on bringing investments to the state and identify the non-resident Odias eager to provide their expertise to address problems such as malnutrition, sanitation, poverty and other factors restricting the state's development.

"Odias based outside and working as scientists, doctors or engineers are eager to help address the problems," aid Khatua, who is now dean of the external affairs ministry-run Foreign Services Institute in New Delhi.

"They should be tapped. A commissioner should be appointed at the resident commissioner's office here," Khatua added.

He said external support was essential for the state since it did not have adequate resources and expertise.

Of the 44 million people in the state, 34 per cent are poor and 25 per cent are tribal people.

The agrarian production is declining. While 63,000 Odias live abroad, 32 lakh live in other states of the country. Most Odias working in other states lack skill training and certification.

Khatua stressed on setting up more skill-training institutes in the state.

He said there was mass dependency among the people in the state on subsidy and flood relief.

Consequently, the state needed technology for flood management.

Odisha imports 52 per cent of the pulses and 83 per cent of fruits it consumes.

When asked by the forum's vice-president Sanjib Mohanty whether the state should have a foreign minister like Telangana, Khatua said appointment of a commissioner should be the first step.

The commissioner can liaison with the state divisions set up in ministry of external affairs for engaging with foreign countries.

"Our need is to identify 10 countries that would be keen to partner on various sectors in Odisha. The commissioner will do the lessoning," he said.

Nutrition expert Basanta Kumar Kar said 38 per cent of people were stunted in the state.

Manoranjan Mohanty, a teacher, cited the recent death of 19 children at a Jajpur village due to malnutrition.

Mohanty suggested the establishment of a few intellectual and policy co-ordination centres in the state and Delhi for advocacy and support.