BIOGRAPHY

Odisha has placed in the bottom of human development index in India. The main reason he see lack of civil and political will of its leaders and people. The civil society leaders of the State united andformed OdishaNagarikaSamaj(ONAS)on 18th December 2009, a civil society coalition which he was given responsibility as Member Secretary. Under his leadership, the forum has advocated many state and national issues like series of farmers suicide, time bound delivery services, climate change action plan, lokayukta, Youth United for Voter Awareness(YUVA),polavaram project, forcefully displacement, Infrastructural development etc.

In the context of Kandhamal communal violence in the year 2007, the civil society leaders and peace activists of both State and nation came together to address the issue how to restore peace, they formed “Odisha Shanti o SadbhavanaAbhiyan(OSSA)” in which Mr Jena played a key role, held the position of Coordinator where the eminent persons like Late Prof Radhamohan, former information commissioner of Odisha and Dr Bhagbanprakash, senior advisor to Election Commission of India held as Convenor and Co-Convenor.

The continuous violence by Maoist and counter attack of the State hurts many peace loving people and Gandhian organisations of the State. To tackle this issue, they formed “OdishaSarvodayaSamaj” in the year 2006 under the leadership of Late Dr Ratan Das, a renowned Bhoodanworker, Mr Jena was given responsibility of Coordinator. The forum had taken many peace initiatives and peaceful solution of many threatening issues.