Chief minister Naveen Patnaik addresses the collectors’ meet at the secretariat in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 7: With an eye on the forthcoming panchayat elections, the Orissa government today asked the district collectors to focus on successful implementation of major programmes.

Special focus would be given to the rice at Rs 2 per kg scheme, the mid-day meal scheme, the scheme of providing bicycles to girls studying in Class 10, and Mamata, a scheme aimed at addressing nutritional problems of pregnant women and infants.

Though the panchayat poll is scheduled to be held in the first quarter of next year, Biju Janata Dal is apparently seeking to make a headstart over others in the run up to it.

Addressing the collectors on the concluding day of the two-day-long conference at the secretariat, chief minister Naveen Patnaik said: “The collectors must emphasise on close monitoring of the rice scheme for its successful implementation. Regular checks and booking of culprits under Prevention of Black-Marketing and Maintenance of Service Act, 1980, should also be followed.”

It was decided that departmental storage agency, along with doorstep delivery, will be made operational with immediate effect in the districts of Nuapada, Deogarh, Boudh and Sonepur, besides 35 blocks and urban local bodies located in 10 districts.

Naveen has also asked the district collectors to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS). Collectors should direct block development officers, sub-collectors and tehsildars to cross check the availability of PDS commodities during their tours, he said.

Besides the rice scheme, the district collectors have been asked to focus on improvement of sanitation works and ensuring supply of power to all government buildings, particularly schools, hostels and anganwadi centres.

The collectors should provide drinking water to anganwadi centres and schools on a priority basis, the chief minister said.