Bhubaneswar, Jan 4: Odisha Chief Secretary AP Padhi has stressed the need for expediting work to develop infrastructure and public services in the tribal dominated districts of the State.
Chairing a review meeting of developmental projects at State secretariat here recently Padhi emphasised adequate water supply, food and sanitation system and increasing seats in hostels for tribal students in districts like Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri and Nuapada.
He directed Health Principal Secretary Arati Ahuja to regularly monitor supply of medicines at community health centres and 108 and 102 ambulance services in the tribal districts.
“Any negligence in water supply and electrification work at hospitals in the districts will dealt with sternly”, Padhi warned.
According to Principal Secretary, Rural Development Pradipta Mohapatra, “Water supply and electrification projects in the tribal dominated districts will be completed by March 2016. Both conventional and solar power pumps will be installed in the hospitals”.
Padhi suggested Irrigation department Principal Secretary Pradip Jena to constitute a special team comprising officials of panchayatiraj and agriculture departments for improving irrigation system in these districts.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan said that an information dissemination system will be put in place soon for monitoring thoroughly the progress of work of each scheme.
GRIDCO Chief Managing Director (CMD) Hemant Kumar Sharma presented the latest updates of the programmes and schemes being executed for electrification in these tribal districts. Setting the deadline for completion of the projects, Padhi instructed to ensure power supply in each hospital in the districts.
In view of the shortage of teachers at tribal residential schools, Padhi said special coaching would be provided to students of Class IX and X.
“In order to provide banking facility in backward districts, the State government will provide land to banks for opening branch offices in tribal dominated districts free of cost. The amount under various government schemes will be transferred through those bank branches”, said Balkrishnan.
