Bhubaneswar: In a significant move aimed at strengthening grassroots governance and enhancing administrative efficiency, Odisha’s Development Commissioner, Anu Garg, has directed Principal Secretaries and Secretaries to embark on comprehensive district visit programmes across the state.
These extensive tours, scheduled for June, July, and August 2025, will see top bureaucrats spending considerable time in 30 districts, focusing on direct engagement and on-the-spot reviews of key departmental functions.
The directive mandates that the visiting officers stay overnight in their assigned districts and share meals with local officials. This approach is designed to provide them with a deeper, more immediate understanding of ground realities and the challenges faced by the local administration and citizens.
A primary focus of these visits will be to meticulously observe the working styles of critical departments such as Health, Education, and Panchayat Raj, which are crucial for public service delivery and welfare. Furthermore, daily district-level meetings will be convened to thoroughly review the progress of ongoing government schemes and projects, and to address any operational bottlenecks.
Among the officers assigned to these tours, Smt. Chitra Arumugam, Principal Secretary to Government (S&T / L&ESI), has been allotted Puri. Dr. Arabinda Kumar Padhee, Principal Secretary to Government (Agri&FE), will visit Dhenkanal, while Shri Saswat Mishra, Principal Secretary to Government (Finance), is assigned Balasore. Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary to Government (F&IT/Energy), will tour Jajpur.
Smt. Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary to Government (H&UD/C&T), has been allocated Jagatsinghpur. Sri Sanjeeb Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to Government (OLLC/ST SC Devt), will visit Nayagarh.
Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary to Government (Works/I&PR/FS&CW), is assigned Keonjhar, and Shri Suresh Kumar Vashishth, Principal Secretary to Government (F&ARD), will tour Angul.
Mrs. Shubha Sarma, Principal Secretary to Government (W & CD), has been allocated Ganjam. Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, Principal Secretary to Government (S&YS), will visit Bolangir. Shri Temjenwapang Ao, Special Secretary to Government (P&C), is assigned Kalahandi.
Other officers participating include Smt. Shalini Pandit, Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government (S&ME/Mission Shakti), who will tour Khordha. Shri Santhalingopalan R., Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government (SSEPD), has been allocated Kandhamal.
Shri Girish S.N., Commissioner-cum-Secretary to Government (PR&DW), will visit Rayagada, and Ms. Aswathy S., Commissioner-Cum-Secretary to Government (H&FW), is assigned Cuttack.
This proactive initiative by the Development Commissioner underscores the state government’s commitment to robust monitoring, prompt issue resolution, and ensuring that welfare schemes and development projects are implemented efficiently at the local level.
The direct interaction between the state’s top administrative brass and district functionaries is anticipated to yield valuable insights, identify systemic challenges, and ultimately lead to improved public service delivery across Odisha.