Bhubaneswar: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik has asked department secretaries to undertake visits
to interior and backward districts to ensure proper
implementation of welfare schemes.
The chief minister was informed at a review last
evening that 16 secretaries visited the districts only once in
the past one year while district collectors were not staying
at their respective headquarters as they frequently visit the
state capital, official sources said today.
Unhappy over activities of senior officials, Patnaik
reportedly asked the chief secretary to undertake quarterly
review of the district visit programme of secretaries.
The sources said Patnaik gave the instruction to
secretaries for the second time after it was found that they
were reluctant to visit interior and backward districts.
The state government had last year issued instructions
to secretaries to spend at least three days of a month in
rural areas.
Patnaik then asked the collectors to spend more time
in villages after assuming office of the chief minister for
the third time on May 21, 2009.
Sources in planning and coordination department said
10-12 secretaries visited districts a day before the chief
minister`s scheduled review meeting on May 26 evening.
PTI
