Taking a leaf out of Manmohan Singh’s instruction to his ministers to prepare a 100- day action plan, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked secretaries to prepare a five-year perspective plan within 15 days in consultation with ministers.

Chairing the first meeting of the secretaries after his re-election as CM on May 16, Naveen asked the officers to implement bijli, sadak and paani programmes. “We cannot yield the fruits of welfare schemes if officers make reviews in AC rooms. You need to go to people in their villages and ensure that schemes serve their purpose,” the Chief Minister told secretaries.

Directors or chief engineers of all departments were asked to undertake at least 10 days’ field visits a month, and district collectors were instructed to visit all blocks and tehsil headquarters at least once a month.

Naveen’s directive to secretaries came after his instructing ruling BJD MLAs and ministers to work like the “servants of people”. He said programmes such as Rs 2 per kg rice, Madhubabu Pension Yojana (pension for old and invalid), Gopabandhu Gramin Yojana (rural development scheme), and employment mission should be given priority. Officers of the rank of chief secretary, development commissioner and agriculture production commissioner were asked to review the progress made on different schemes at least once a month.