Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level secretarial meeting at Kharavel Bhavan on Wednesday to review Odisha’s key governance and development initiatives.
Senior officials, including Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretaries Hemant Sharma, Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Chitra Arumugam, and Usha Padhee, along with departmental secretaries, participated in the session.
Garg highlighted the success of major state programmes such as the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), free education from KG to PG, Mukhyamantri Apurva Yojana, and public food distribution reforms. She emphasised strengthening technical and vocational education, sports, and startup ecosystems to accelerate inclusive growth.
The meeting reviewed governance reforms, citizen-centric service delivery, and the use of artificial intelligence and data analytics for policy formulation. Departments were directed to ensure timely execution of projects and efficient budget utilisation.
The Finance Department presented an economic review up to June 30, 2026, noting significant growth in expenditure and progress in agriculture, social welfare, and development schemes. Garg instructed departments to enhance fiscal discipline and complete projects within deadlines.
The Electronics and IT Department showcased an AI-based Odia voice feedback system to collect citizen opinions and improve service quality. Plans to digitise old handwritten records using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) were also discussed.
A 25-point strategic roadmap for Jharsuguda was unveiled, focusing on education, industry, transport, aviation, digital services, and green energy. District Collector Kunal Hemantiram Chohan presented the plan, aimed at integrated development and job creation.
Garg urged all departments to maintain coordination and adopt technology-driven governance to make Odisha’s development journey more dynamic and citizen-focused.
