Mission Kotia: District Administration Going Full Throttle On All Round Development of Border Villages

Koraput: Amidst the ongoing conflict between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh with regard to some border villages, the District Administration has taken a slew of measures to reach out to the people and make government services more accessible for them. Kotia Panchayat, which is the southernmost part of the Koraput district bordering Andhra Pradesh, is witnessing a surge in activities today thanks to the proactive efforts taken up by the district administration.

With the aim of bringing all round development in the region, the district administration has drawn up a blue print involving all government agencies for the area. The multi-pronged approach aims to redefine the strategy and assure the people the best of government services. Continuing the reach out strategy, newly joined District Collector Md. Abdaal Akhtar has been taking keen interest in the Kotia issue and has assured that Kotia is an integral part of the state and the efforts of Andhra Pradesh will fail.

As part of the development strategy, senior officials including the Collector are visiting various villages in Kotia Gram Panchayat. For ensuring responsibility, officials have been asked to submit weekly reports on the activities being undertaken. The thrust of the administration has been on improving infrastructure in the inaccessible areas and improving basic facilities such as health and education.

Following Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik’s announcement that Kotia will be a Model Panchayat, the district administration is leaving no stone unturned to make it a reality as soon as possible. Recently, Collector Abdaal Akhtar had visited Kotia, Madkar, Phagunseneri, Phatuseneri, Tala Gangeipadar of Kotia GP and had a detailed interaction with the local people and reviewed developmental projects. ITDA Koraput is organising awareness programmes in various villages to sensitize people on various government schemes. Priority is being given to the focus villages. Likewise, improving livelihoods in the area is another thrust area for the administration.

As part of reviving the rural economy in the Kotia Panchayat, the district administration has been supporting people especially the tribal communities through Self Help Groups and intervention by ORMAS and OLM. The tribal people are being assisted to form producer groups for collecting and marketing forest produce collected in the area.

With the active involvement of the district administration, the people of Kotia Panchayat are today happy that they are being taken care by the government. Speaking on the issue, Collector Md. Abdaal Akhtar has said that “We are working for the all round development of the area. While Health and Education remain the priority, we are improving the infrastructure so that benefits of development reach them early. The tribal people are being supported vigorously so that the rural forest based economy revives.”