BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Government has initiated steps for setting up a State level convergence cell for efficient utilisation of financial and human resources.
As a number of schemes and programmes of the Government with similar objectives are running parallel to each other, the purpose of the proposed cell is to ensure optimum utilisation of resources through convergence to achieve desired outcomes.
The issue was discussed at a high level meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi here on Wednesday.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan suggested that projects under extra budgetary support be planned and implemented in convergence with budgetary resources to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts and wastage of funds.
Extra budgetary resources are available from Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), Odisha Mineral Bearing Area Development Corporation (OMBADC), Odisha State Agricultural Marketing (OSAM) Board, Odisha Building and Other Constriction Workers Welfare Board (OB&OCWWB) Fund, District Mineral Fund (DMF) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS).
It was decided that project proposals approved under these funds would be discussed at the State level convergence cell for better planning and implementation.
An officer of each department will be designated as nodal officer for the purpose of project planning and implementation.
The Chief Secretary said convergence should aim at bringing synergy among departments for timely implementation of various schemes and optimum utilisation of resources for providing sustainable benefits to intended community.
Padhi advised district Collectors present in the meeting to utilise the DMF on essential and priority projects within the mining areas. Projects identified in priority sector include
drinking water supply, communication, skill development, housing, health service, education, welfare of differently abled persons and irrigation.
Around `2710 crore has been augmented under DMF in eight major mineral-bearing districts like Angul, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Rayagada and Sundargarh. As of now, around 4,518 projects worth `1,918 crore have been approved under the fund.
Balakrishnan advised major departments to put in place a system in their respective departments for providing necessary technical and manpower assistance for early completion of the projects taken up with DMF.