Bhubaneswar: The Odisha chief minister, Naveen Patnaik, Tuesday urged the Odisha Administrative Service( OAS) officers to seed up the implementation of the state government’s flagship schemes till the last mile delivery point and reach to the people. He said that the wholehearted support, dedication and commitment of the administrators in properly assessing the grass root level needs and in providing necessary impetus to the government schemes and programmes would be highly essential for accomplishment of the government’s objectives.

The chief minister, while speaking at the valedictory function of OAS Officers Association, here on Tuesday, said the turn around of Odisha through major government initiatives and unique welfare schemes owes a lot to the committed efforts of the OAS officers. “I would expect more of this from you in the coming days”, he said.

“Since 2000, we have overcome many hurdles to make Odisha a better governed state. The learning of the 1999 super cyclone helped up to achieve zero-casualty during  Phailin 2013. A food grain deficient state is now a food grain surplus state and the third largest contributor to the National Public Distribution System. We continue to grow at a rate higher than the national average. We have brought more than 8 million people above the poverty line. The indicator in health sector shown very significant improvements specially in IMR, MMR and immunization. ”

The chief minister assured the OAS officers “all support and protection whenever it is needed.”

The function was also addressed by the finance minister Sashi Bhusan Behera, chief secretary AP Padhi, Association’s newly elected president Saroj Samal and general secretary Jyoti Ranjan Mishra.