Bhubaneswar: In a major move to deal with administrative challenges in Kotia gram panchayat in Koraput district, the Odisha government has formed a 16-member team to regulate the overall development of the area through effective implementation of various schemes.
The special committee was formed on the basis of the decision taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi last month. The meeting had stressed the need for a robust and integrated administrative framework for the Kotia group of villages under Pottangi block of Koraput bordering Andhra Pradesh.
Headed by Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, the panel has been mandated to recommend to the Chief Minister on the issues of Kotia group of villages. The team will also define the special agency structure, hierarchical and funding patterns and convergence of various schemes.
The team It will also carry out a comparative analysis of welfare schemes being offered by the bordering state to ensure that Odisha’s offerings are at par or better for the people of Kotia.
The proposed special agency to be headed by a senior officer will operate with an independent office. The aim is to bring all departmental services—currently functioning independently—under one umbrella for effective and coordinated service delivery to the residents of Kotia.
The committee will also work to strengthen the cultural and linguistic identity of the region by promoting Odia language, literature, festivals, and traditions under the broader initiative of “Odia Asmita” in the bordering areas, fostering a deeper sense of belonging among the local population.
The committee includes senior officials from key departments, including Revenue, Home, ST & SC Development, Rural Development, Labour, Food Supplies, Odia Language and Culture, Law, Education, Panchayati Raj, and Health. The Collector and SP of Koraput, as well as the DIG, South Western Range, and RDC of Southern Division, are also its members.
