Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a comprehensive review meeting with all District Collectors on Friday at the Lok Seva Bhawan conference hall to evaluate the implementation of flagship public welfare schemes and infrastructure projects across the state.
Joined by Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh along with departmental secretaries in person, and District Collectors participating virtually, the high-level session focused on accelerating grassroots execution across critical sectors including Home, Energy, Urban Development, Health, Agriculture, Education, and Women Empowerment.
Strengthening Law Enforcement and Disaster Readiness
Reviewing the Home Department’s initiatives, Additional Chief Secretary Hemant Sharma directed District Collectors and Superintendents of Police to convene District-Level Narco Coordination Committee meetings every three months under the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign to curb illegal drug trafficking and boost awareness. To bolster disaster response, Collectors were instructed to promptly identify and hand over government land for regional disaster management hubs in Balasore, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rayagada, and Sambalpur, alongside land for new excise offices, police stations, and enforcement units.
Power, Paddy Procurement, and Urban Infrastructure
- Energy: Officials were directed to expedite environmental clearances and resolve local land hurdles to ensure seamless rural electrification by power distribution companies.
- Food Supplies: The Principal Secretary emphasised streamlining paddy procurement, expanding warehouse capacities, and finalising tenders for transporting paddy and rice from mandis to mills and depots.
- Urban Development: Collectors were urged to fast-track land acquisition for major water supply projects in Bhubaneswar and sanitation initiatives in Rourkela and Balangir. In compliance with Supreme Court directives, districts must enforce strict solid waste management rules, form dedicated cells, register bulk waste generators, and strengthen District Urban Development Agencies (DUDAs) across all 30 districts.
Healthcare and Agricultural Milestones
The Health Secretary reviewed the TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, noting that district committees and block-level Class-1 nodal officers are now in place. Collectors were advised to ramp up targeted population screenings, X-ray testing, and direct benefit transfers under the Nikshay Poshan Yojana.
In the agriculture sector, Collectors were tasked with daily monitoring of the Farmer Registry—specifically targeting low-registration villages—and speeding up land handover for automated weather stations under the WINDS project. Strict oversight was also ordered for the distribution of seeds, pesticides, and vegetable minikits under the Chief Minister’s Special Flood Relief Package.
Boosting Artisans, Startups, Women Entrepreneurs, and Education
- Handlooms & MSME: Directives were issued to fast-track land for handloom hubs, Tussar silk parks, sericulture development, and basic infrastructure under the Srujanika brand, alongside expediting bank loans for artisans. Discussions also covered One District, One Product (ODOP), the Odisha Seva First Innovation Challenge, and the National Startup Awards 6.0.
- Mission Shakti: To expand market access for women entrepreneurs, Collectors were told to accelerate the construction of Subhadra Shakti Marts, Gram Panchayat Subhadra Shakti Kendras, and District Subhadra Shakti Bazaars.
- School Education: Reviewing the proposed Godabarish Adarsha Prathamika Vidyalayas, the Chief Secretary instructed officials to immediately identify land and resolve bottlenecks to ensure these model primary schools are launched within stipulated timelines.
