Odisha’s Minister for Revenue and Disaster Management, Suresh Pujari, visited the Revenue Officers’ Training Institute (ROTI) at Gothapatna and attended a special interactive session with 74 Odisha Revenue Service (ORS) trainees.
During the interaction, the Minister advised the trainee officers to dedicate themselves to public service with sincerity, integrity and commitment. At the outset, ROTI Course Coordinator Soumyakanta Soumyadarshi briefed the Minister about the comprehensive training curriculum being imparted at the institute.
The Minister held detailed discussions with the trainees on various laws and rules related to revenue administration. He also interacted with the trainees on subjects covered during the training programme and advised them to remain committed towards making revenue services more accessible and citizen-friendly.
Discussing the various challenges in revenue administration in the State, Pujari stressed the importance of creating greater awareness and expertise among new officers regarding Hi-Tech Survey operations. He also discussed the Land Acquisition Act, rehabilitation and resettlement provisions and advised officers to always stand in support of the common people while discharging their duties.
In this context, the Minister advised ROTI to strengthen its training modules with greater technical orientation and skill-based learning. Referring to the successful implementation of Hi-Tech Survey processes in districts such as Sambalpur, Subarnapur, and Deogarh, he observed that similar requirements would arise in other parts of the State in the coming days, thereby necessitating higher technical proficiency among revenue officers. He further suggested that selected trainees should be provided with specialised advanced skill-development training related to Hi-Tech Survey operations.
The Minister also emphasised the importance of practical field-based training instead of limiting the programme only to classroom learning. Considering the frequent disaster-related challenges faced by a state like Odisha, he urged ORS officers to acquire adequate expertise in disaster management during their training period. He stated that a successful officer is shaped not only through quality and meaningful training, but also through the effective application of practical knowledge and common sense.
On the occasion, Minister stated:
Keeping ourselves away from arrogance, we must ensure dedicated and people-oriented public service delivery with sincerity and commitment. There are many people more capable than us who could not reach these positions due to lack of opportunity. Therefore, if you work honestly, you will naturally earn the blessings and goodwill of the people. You must repeatedly study and understand all laws related to revenue administration. It is our moral responsibility to use the law positively for public welfare. By considering yourselves as public servants and the people as the real stakeholders and masters, you can set exemplary standards in administration. If services are delivered within the prescribed timelines, no external pressure can influence your work. Law is our strongest guiding force. In situations where legal or institutional support is unavailable or undue pressure is exerted, your practical wisdom and common sense can help transform challenges into opportunities and bring positive change.
At the conclusion of the programme, Director of ROTI, Diganta Rautaray, expressed gratitude to the Minister and assured that the institute would take forward his valuable suggestions to strengthen capacity-building and technical training for revenue service officers in the future.
Among others, Private Secretary to the Revenue Minister, Pradeep Kumar Sahu, and faculty members of ROTI were present during the programme.
