Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Anu Garg today chaired a comprehensive review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to evaluate the progress of the ‘Gramodaya’ initiative, launched in October 2024 to bring holistic development to Maoist-affected regions and foster trust between the government and local communities.
The programme focuses on saturating delivery of welfare schemes, basic amenities, and family-based interventions in 484 villages across 192 gram panchayats in 39 blocks of 10 districts: Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Nuapada, and Rayagada. A total of 57,296 families have been identified as priority beneficiaries.
The Chief Secretary directed all departments to ensure 100 per cent coverage of eligible beneficiaries, based on baseline surveys conducted by 20 departments. She emphasised immediate issuance of ration cards, establishment of affordable food centres where needed, land allotment for the homeless under Vasundhara Yojana, and priority construction of Anganwadi centres with full facilities including drinking water, electricity, toilets, kitchens, and LPG connections.
Other key instructions included scholarships for economically weaker students, enhanced health services, pre-recruitment training for youth in police, paramilitary, and fire services, inclusion of women in self-help groups for livelihood generation, installation of mobile towers in uncovered villages, and priority banking access through mini banks and micro-ATMs in 244 unbanked villages.
The meeting also reviewed progress on block-level stadiums, sports equipment, improved transport connectivity (with high female ridership in Nabarangpur and Malkangiri), irrigation projects, skill development training, construction worker registrations, piped water supply, rural housing, community centres, roads, and playgrounds.
Multi-level monitoring committees have been set up at state, district, block, and panchayat levels to supervise implementation. The Chief Secretary called for monthly review meetings and urged all departments to collaborate closely to achieve grassroots targets, reinforcing the government’s commitment to peace, development, and mainstream integration in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
