Odisha Intensifies Push for People-Centric Governance, Innovation and Digital Integration

Bhubaneswar: A high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja was convened at Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday to assess the progress of key administrative reforms and accelerate the implementation of technology-driven governance across the state. The meeting brought together secretaries from various departments to evaluate performance and align efforts with Odisha’s long-term development goals.

Opening the session, Chief Secretary Ahuja emphasized the importance of strengthening citizen-focused services through specialized knowledge, faster grievance redressal, and digital innovations. Reviewing the current public grievance mechanism, officials reported that 82% of complaints received since June 2024 have been successfully resolved. Ahuja stressed the need to develop a dedicated tech-enabled system to swiftly handle priority cases and improve response time.

To further enhance the quality of service delivery, departments were asked to gather structured feedback from beneficiaries, which will help improve platforms like ‘Ama Sasana’. Plans are also underway to integrate more public services into the ‘Ama Sathi’ WhatsApp bot, ensuring easier access and real-time updates for citizens.

The meeting discussed the launch of a ‘Work Passbook’ system by October 31, which will digitally track the progress of government projects and monitor performance against defined targets. Officials also explored strategies for expediting land allotment projects and strengthening cross-departmental coordination.

In the area of public safety, departments were instructed to begin the process of integrating their existing CCTV infrastructure into a centralized surveillance network. The move aims to improve security monitoring and enhance the efficiency of emergency response systems.

Innovation and citizen engagement emerged as another focal point, with the government set to launch the ‘Odisha Ideas Portal’ to crowdsource policy suggestions and innovative solutions from the public. This initiative is expected to build a collaborative governance model and foster transparency in decision-making.

The meeting also placed strong emphasis on capacity building in emerging technologies. All government officers are required to undergo AI-based online training between April and June 2025, while a minimum of 20 hours of learning through the iGOT platform has been mandated to strengthen administrative competencies in line with the ‘Viksit Odisha, Viksit India’ Vision Document.

Chief Secretary Ahuja reviewed the status of the ‘Vision 2030: Developed Odisha’ initiative and called for improved online monitoring tools to ensure accountability and timely implementation. Discussions also included an appraisal of Odisha’s industrial ecosystem and ease of doing business, with particular attention to the digital performance of the ‘GO-SMILE’ platform in facilitating streamlined inspections and investor services.

The meeting concluded with a comprehensive review of departmental expenditures under the current financial year. Ahuja urged secretaries to maintain rigorous oversight on financial planning and execution to maximize the impact of government spending on Odisha’s development journey.