Odisha Govt Pushes for Accelerated Rural Development

Bhubaneswar: With a clear focus on accelerating rural transformation, Minister for Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Rural Development Rabi Narayan Naik on Friday chaired a high-level review meeting with Chief Development Officers (CDO-cum-EOs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) to assess the progress of key rural development initiatives across Odisha. The meeting was held at the MGNREGA Society Conference Hall on the SIRD campus.

The review covered the implementation of flagship programmes including Bikashita Gaon Bikashita Odisha (BGBO), Antyodaya Gruha Yojana, MGNREGA, and rural connectivity projects, with emphasis on strengthening village infrastructure, expanding housing coverage, and enhancing livelihood opportunities.

Addressing the officers, the Minister stressed the need to fast-track project execution during the remaining months of the financial year and urged officials to exceed assigned targets through proactive planning and coordinated action. “If we work with sincerity and speed, we can achieve far more than what we have set out to do. The Government is fully prepared with financial support — our performance must reflect our commitment to rural development,” he said.

He further directed officers to promptly flag operational challenges requiring departmental intervention and assured them of personal support, including field visits, to resolve bottlenecks and ensure timely completion of projects.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary Girish S.N. highlighted the transformative potential of the BGBO initiative, particularly in bridging infrastructure gaps in rural areas. Emphasising inclusive development, he directed that all unconnected villages be brought under full road and service connectivity within a defined timeframe. Reaffirming departmental backing, he encouraged officers to openly share implementation challenges for swift resolution.

Siddharth Shankar Swain, Director, Special Projects, underlined the importance of completing documentation and timely submission of bills for executed works to ensure that financial records accurately reflect ground-level progress, making the monitoring and review process more effective.

The meeting witnessed participation from senior departmental officials along with 30 CDOs and 38 BDOs from across the State, who engaged in detailed deliberations on improving service delivery and accelerating project implementation at the grassroots.

The review concluded with a collective commitment to intensify rural development efforts and strengthen accountability mechanisms, reinforcing the State’s vision of building a Bikashita Odisha through efficient governance and inclusive growth at the village and block levels.