Odisha to Leverage AI for Smarter Governance, Says Chief Secretary

Bhubaneswar: With artificial intelligence (AI) emerging as a key tool in modern governance, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja has called for its deeper integration to enhance service delivery and administrative efficiency.

Chairing an all-secretaries meeting at Lok Seva Bhavan on Friday, Ahuja directed the Electronics and IT Department to establish a research-driven AI ecosystem aimed at improving governance processes. He emphasized that AI could make service delivery faster, more transparent, and accessible to citizens.

Stressing the importance of technology-driven administration, Ahuja urged all departments to ensure that services under the Right to Public Services Act are made available online within the stipulated time. He also instructed departments to report their service implementation status by February 15.

The meeting reviewed progress since the last all-secretaries meeting in December and assessed the implementation of proposals from the 4th National Conference of Chief Secretaries. The Chief Secretary also acknowledged the Central Government’s appreciation for Odisha’s successful hosting of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar and thanked all departments involved.

Discussions covered preparations for the upcoming Assembly session, planning for Rath Yatra 2025, and the presentation of draft vision documents for Vikshit Odisha-2036 and Vikshit Bharat-2047.

Ahuja recommended adopting a central monitoring system developed by TPCODL for tracking transformer operations up to the last supply point. The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, Housing and Urban Development Department, and Water Resources Department were urged to integrate this system to enhance monitoring of piped drinking water supply and irrigation networks.

The Centre for Modernizing Government Initiatives (CMGI) showcased the Meeting Decision Monitoring System (MDMS) portal, designed to track and implement key decisions made in secretarial meetings. Ahuja encouraged secretaries to utilize the portal for improved governance monitoring and decision implementation.

Additionally, the meeting advised the Cooperation Department to review the existing agricultural marketing system and propose necessary reforms to boost farmers’ earnings and streamline the distribution network. The Chief Secretary’s directives reflect Odisha’s commitment to leveraging AI and technology for transparent, accountable, and citizen-friendly governance.