Bhubaneswar: Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Anu Garg Friday held a high-level review meeting with the World Bank Mission Team to assess the progress of the Odisha State Capacity and Sustainable Growth Policy Programme (OSCRGP).
The review meeting saw participation of key state offi cials, including the CEO of the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC), Special Secretary of the State Planning and Coordination department, Director of the Directorate of Finance and Statistics, and representatives of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA). The OSCRGP, supported by the World Bank and the Union government, has been operational since 2023-24 and will continue until April 2028.
The programme focuses on strengthening state capacity and promoting sustainable development through technology-enabled governance.
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Its key objectives include ensuring effective delivery of government schemes to all eligible benefi ciaries through integrated digital platforms, expanding social and economic security coverage for citizens, disseminating timely information to the public for disaster forecasting and mitigation, improving transparency in policy-making, planning, and institutional reforms to enhance accountability and efficiency and modernising the state statistical system to facilitate evidence-based policy formulation and implementation.
During the meeting, Garg reviewed the annual progress of the programme and emphasised the need to expedite ongoing initiatives to accelerate fund utilisation.
She also directed that the State Information Management Committee meeting be convened at the earliest to further strengthen information management mechanisms.
The World Bank officials discussed leveraging their support to enhance Odisha’s disaster management capabilities, particularly in improving the warning system for multi-faceted hazards such as lightning and cold waves.
The OSDMA was advised to focus on making disaster warnings more timely, accurate, and effective to minimise damage.
This meeting underlines Odisha’s commitment to leveraging technology, improving governance, and strengthening disaster resilience, ensuring that developmental benefits reach every citizen efficiently.