Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday asked district collectors to implement developmental projects in the shortest possible time.
Inaugurating a two-day collectors’ conference, being organised after a gap of three years due to COVID-19 pandemic, in Bhubaneswar, he said that districts must compete with one another for the realisation of goals.
“I would like to see all our developmental projects implemented in the shortest possible time and welfare initiatives reach the legitimate beneficiaries,” Patnaik said.
“There should be competition among districts for the realisation of goals, which will lead to the setting of benchmarks,” he added.
The CM said Odisha has been at the forefront in sports, healthcare, women empowerment, crop production and COVID management.
He claimed that the 5T and ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiatives have brought about transformative governance.
“We should focus more on farm mechanisation, crop diversification, horticulture and floriculture, dairy development and fisheries,” he said.
Patnaik said efforts are underway to make Odisha one of the top three startup destinations in the country.
He said the state government is providing interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh to SHGs under Mission Shakti.
The CM said the state government will provide Rs 50,000 crore as loans to SHGs under the scheme over the next five years and collectors need to provide support for the realisation of this objective.
Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra said the collectors’ conference will deliberate on 17 subjects and transformative initiatives of the government and suggestions will be used to prepare a roadmap for the future.
Apart from the CM and three ministers, the collectors of all the 30 districts, project directors, and other officials responsible for implementing different schemes participated in the event, he said, adding the second day of the conference will be held in Konark.
PTI