In a significant push to enhance administrative efficiency and combat corruption, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja chaired a high-level secretary meeting today at Lok Seva Bhawan.
The meeting focused on critical governance reforms, emphasising punctuality, performance accountability, and vigilance strengthening to ensure transparent and effective administration.
A key agenda was the reinforcement of the state’s vigilance administration to curb corruption. Discussions highlighted the need for institutional reforms to address inefficiencies in government procurement, service delivery, human resource management, and grievance redressal. To tackle absenteeism and ensure timely attendance, the government is exploring an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based attendance monitoring system, set to be initially implemented at Lok Seva Bhawan and Kharavela Bhawan, with plans for statewide expansion.
The meeting also addressed underperformance among government officials and employees. Chief Secretary Ahuja stressed that those failing to meet performance standards would face periodic reviews, with provisions for early retirement under government regulations. A 15-day action plan was outlined to track progress on key tasks, ensuring accountability across departments.
A major highlight was the preparation for the Chief Minister’s Dashboard, slated for launch on October 1, 2025. This data-driven platform aims to streamline departmental monitoring and decision-making, enhancing the execution of critical projects. The meeting also reviewed the progress of central and state infrastructure projects, with District Collectors tasked to submit monthly updates by the 7th, followed by departmental reviews by the 12th, and a Chief Secretary-led review on the last Saturday of each month.
In a forward-looking move, the Planning and Convergence Department announced a workshop on August 21, 2025, to discuss ‘Developed Odisha: Vision 2036 & 2047’, focusing on key performance indicators (KPIs) for long-term development. Officials were also urged to visit educational institutions during field inspections to engage with teachers and students, fostering grassroots-level interaction.
The meeting saw participation from senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries Satyabrata Sahu, Deoranjan Kumar Singh, Surendra Kumar, Hemant Sharma, and other departmental heads, who contributed to the robust discussions.
