In a significant push toward citizen-centric governance, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has directed officials to gain firsthand exposure to grassroots-level scheme implementation.
The initiative aims to bridge the gap between policy formulation and on-the-ground realities, ensuring quicker decision-making and effective governance.
In an official communication to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries, Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), and District Collectors, the Chief Secretary emphasized that bureaucratic efficiency improves when officials experience the challenges faced by field workers and citizens firsthand. The move is designed to foster better policy alignment, leading to streamlined administrative processes.
Under this initiative, each department will prepare a structured field exposure plan, ensuring rotation-based visits for officials—starting from Assistant Section Officers and Section Officers, who normally remain confined to desk jobs. These officials will shadow frontline workers for a full day, including:
- Anganwadi Workers (for Women & Child Development Department)
- Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) (for Health & Family Welfare Department)
To deepen their understanding, officials will be encouraged to spend a night in the field, gaining comprehensive insights into real-life challenges in policy implementation.
Rather than monitoring or directing field workers, the purpose of these visits is purely observational and educational. Officials will submit at least one concrete suggestion upon returning, aimed at improving program execution. These insights will be consolidated at the departmental level, potentially leading to amendments in policy guidelines and operational frameworks for better service delivery.
Additionally, department heads will present these findings during the All Secretaries Meeting, promoting cross-learning and policy refinement.
The initiative will first roll out in Odisha’s Aspirational Districts, targeting regions with developmental challenges. Field visits are expected to commence immediately, ensuring impactful policy modifications that resonate with ground realities.
With this bold approach, Odisha sets a precedent for adaptive governance, fostering a more responsive administrative ecosystem that prioritises people-first policies.
