Bhubaneswar: The Centre has appointed "prabhari officers" for Odisha to co-ordinate the efforts of state and central governments to achieve rapid transformation of the backward districts.

The districts have been identified on the basis of indicators such as education, health, nutrition basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, electrification, access to potable water and individual toilets.

The prabhari officers have been appointed across the country for 115 backward districts. They will work to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states to address the developmental needs of the districts

For Odisha, the Centre has appointed Aparajita Sarangi for Kalahandi, Jitendra Nath Swain for Dhenkanal, Nikunja K Sundaray for Kandhamal, Satyabrata Sahu for Rayagada, Barun Mitra for Koraput, Suresh Kumar Vasishth for Balangir, Sanjeev Chadha for Gajapati and Santosh Kunmar Sarangi for Malkangiri.

The initiative is part of the Prime Minister's vision of a "New India" by 2022. The backward districts have been identified based on select indicators of backwardness and prevalence of Leftwing extremism.