Principal Secy Usha Padhee reviews developmental progress during two-day visit to Jagatsinghpur

Paradip, Aug 1: Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary of the Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport Departments, concluded a comprehensive two-day visit to Jagatsinghpur district aimed at evaluating the progress of key developmental initiatives and ensuring effective implementation across sectors.

During her visit, Padhee engaged with local stakeholders, officials, and community members, highlighting the need for coordinated departmental efforts, strategic planning, and grassroots-level execution to bring about impactful and inclusive development.

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A significant emphasis was placed on enhancing economic opportunities for women. Padhee instructed the Lead District Manager (LDM) to extend concessional credit facilities to women entrepreneurs, especially those operating independently outside formal Self-Help Group (SHG) networks. She also directed officials from Mission Shakti, the District Project Management Unit (DPM), and the Odisha Livelihoods Mission to identify enterprising women and support them through livelihood schemes in sectors such as dairy, fisheries, and homestead farming.

Padhee conducted detailed reviews of major government schemes including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), and drinking water supply programmes. She also assessed progress in vital sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, horticulture, energy, and social welfare. A special focus was laid on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) development and the delivery of inclusive public services.

Commending the district’s commendable performance in the field of education, Padhee urged officials to maintain momentum and work with a long-term vision to further improve learning outcomes and access.

In her interaction with Executive Officers of Jagatsinghpur and Paradeep municipalities, she called for a focused approach to address urban-specific needs and bridge service delivery gaps through proactive governance. She also visited the Bhutmundai Truck Terminal and the newly built Jagatsinghpur Bus Stand to review their operational status and assess improvements in public transport connectivity.

Stressing the importance of optimising public resources, Padhee advised district authorities to effectively utilise government-owned land for developmental purposes such as creating public infrastructure, generating employment,and enhancing revenue.

A high-level review meeting was held with senior district officials, where District Collector J. Sonal briefed Padhee on ongoing projects, key achievements, and existing challenges. The Principal Secretary underscored the necessity of departmental coordination and participatory governance to ensure the last-mile delivery of services and benefits.

Among those present during the visit were Additional District Collector Jyoti Shankar Roy, Zilla Parishad CEO Ravi Narayan Jethi, and several other departmental and block-level officers.