Bhubaneswar: Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja chaired a secretary-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan today, reviewing the progress of initiatives undertaken since the last meeting on March 11.
The state government’s commitment to providing citizen-centric services was reiterated, with Ahuja emphasizing the need for departments to continue implementing departmental work.
The meeting assessed the expenditure percentage of various departments for the financial year 2024-25 and suggested preparing annual work plans for 2025-26 to ensure funds are utilized according to budget provisions. The importance of providing expenditure and investment certificates for central grants in 2024-25 was also stressed.
Discussions centered around Viksit Odisha for Viksit Bharat 2036 and 2047, major departmental initiatives, and the implementation of the Work Pass Book system. Progress on developing a central system for real-time monitoring of drinking water and piped irrigation systems was reviewed, along with the Electronics and IT Department’s work on asset management for schools and hostels.
The meeting also focused on enhancing the grievance redressal process, re-engineering the platform, and preparing for the Citizen Feedback Management System portal. The Department of Commerce and Transport reported that the “Odisha Yatri” ride-hailing app has completed 1.5 lakh trips, while 4,16,138 employees have registered on the IGOT-Mission Karma Yogi platform, completing 5,64,142 courses.
Odisha ranked second overall on this platform, after Rajasthan. Employees will undergo at least 20 hours of training per year. Plans are underway for capacity building and awareness campaigns to ensure access to government services, including the Right to Public Service Act.
Departments were advised to expedite filling vacant posts, ensure timely pension payments, and implement Aadhaar authentication for good governance. The Development Commissioner emphasized the importance of secretaries and senior officers visiting districts monthly and submitting reports to the government.
