Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently inaugurated a two-day Collectors’ Conference at the Lok Seva Bhawan in the capital city, where he emphasized the need for all development projects and welfare initiatives to be implemented in a timely manner and reach all legitimate beneficiaries. He also called for a spirit of competition among districts, with each setting benchmarks for others to achieve, so as to achieve the desired goals more efficiently.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Odisha has been at the forefront of many transformative initiatives in areas such as sports, healthcare, education, women's empowerment, and Covid management. For instance, the 5T Initiative and Mo Sarkar have transformed governance in the state and enhanced outreach programs for the people. At the district level, collectors and district administrations are encouraged to leverage technology to identify and address issues of concern in a faster, simpler, and more hassle-free manner.
In terms of agriculture and allied sectors, the Chief Minister emphasized the importance of this sector in providing employment to people in rural areas. He suggested that greater focus on farm mechanization, crop diversification, horticulture, and dairy development could help revitalize the rural economy. The CM further pointed out that the Millet Mission, aimed at improving nutrition, has been adopted nationally.
The Chief Minister also recognized the importance of start-ups in the economic development of the state, and praised the state government's efforts in setting up the O-hub as one of the largest incubation centers for start-ups in the country. The state aims to make Odisha one of the top three start-up destinations in the country.
Moreover, the Chief Minister highlighted the core role of women's empowerment in all the state's initiatives. The Mission Shakti groups, for instance, are being transformed into small and medium enterprises, with interest-free loans provided to support their conversion.
The state has set a target of providing Rs 50 thousand crore to Mission Shakti groups in the next five years. Other flagship programs, such as Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana, School Transformation, Tourism Promotion, and Sports, also require special attention.
The Chief Minister expressed his hopes for good suggestions and initiatives from the two-day Collectors' Conference, and called for joint efforts in building an empowered Odisha.
