Odisha Chief Secretary has directed a mandatory field visits to bridge policy and ground realities.
Bhubaneswar: In a proactive step to strengthen governance and improve policy implementation, Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja (IAS, 1990 batch) has instructed senior government officials to undertake structured field visits. The initiative is designed to foster direct engagement with grassroots-level functioning and enhance informed decision-making.
An official directive has been issued to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Commissioner-cum-Secretaries, Revenue Divisional Commissioners (RDCs), and District Collectors, directing departments to devise rotational field visit schedules for staff ranging from Assistant Section Officers to Section Officers.
Learning-Oriented Engagement
Emphasizing experiential learning over administrative oversight, the program encourages officers to accompany and observe frontline workers such as Anganwadi staff and ASHAs (Accredited Social Health Activists). The objective is not to inspect but to understand operational challenges and the real-world impact of government schemes.
Officials are also encouraged to stay overnight in remote or rural areas to gain a deeper appreciation of local conditions and challenges.
“Exposure to ground realities enhances the effectiveness and speed of decision-making,” Ahuja stated in the circular.
From Observation to Reform
Each participating officer will be expected to submit at least one actionable suggestion to their departmental secretary, based on insights gathered during their visits. These contributions are intended to inform policy refinement and procedural improvements.
The collected feedback will be reviewed during All Secretaries Meetings, promoting cross-departmental learning and facilitating the incorporation of practical insights into governance strategies.
Initial Focus on Aspirational Districts
The program will initially roll out in Aspirational Districts, where developmental indicators often lag and administrative innovation is most needed. By connecting decision-makers more directly with ground-level realities, the initiative aims to accelerate impact and promote responsive governance.
This move signals a shift in bureaucratic engagement—from desk-bound policy-making to immersive field-level interaction, reinforcing Odisha’s commitment to people-centric administration.
