With the poverty level remaining high and concentrated in certain zones of Odisha, the World Bank would take steps to locate these hidden pockets so that eradication of poverty is done in a planned manner.
Unless these areas of poverty are located, its eradication would remain a challenge for the State administration, it is felt.
The World Bank has proposed to form partnership with the State Government and deploy a high-level team at the ground level so that locating the poverty-ridden areas would be easier.
Though the pace of poverty reduction was fastest in the country after 2005, poverty still remains high and concentrated among people in many areas.
The World Bank has said there is a need for time-bound plan for development for Odisha and this can be achieved with its support as it would help in implementing the plan.
Enhancing the overall capacity of the State administration, public sector undertakings and the private sector has to be strengthened. A sector-wise approach would provide sustenance to interventions unlike projects where most benefits cease after closure of the projects, the World Bank has advised. Better alignment of priorities of the State with the support and programmes of the World Bank would be quite helpful for the State, it has opined.
Diversification of the economy is now needed, which could be done by promoting upstream and downstream linkages for greater value addition in mining and agriculture. While generation of more revenue from natural sources is highly pressed for, now it should be hooked into the issue of inventing these revenues for improving the capital base.
While strengthening the capabilities of the State Government is needed, strengthening the fiscal policy and debt management should be the priority, the World Bank has pointed out. It has advised for building an integrated social protection platform to move from multiple schemes to a state-of-the-art social protection system.
In Odisha, there are a number of social protection schemes and a multiple number of schemes do not ensure proper protection of the vulnerable groups; instead, it creates confusion among the implementers and beneficiaries, said an expert in social sector engaged in poverty reduction.
Focus on quality education, healthcare and nutrition services is needed as it would spur the development process and improve the Human Development Index (HDI).
The World Bank has also suggested for improvement of the data system for better governance, accountability in service delivery and enhanced use of data in policy formulation at the Government level.
Improvement in the urban development institutions is needed too so also improvement and strengthening the municipal financial system, promotion of urban slum upgradation and supporting an affordable housing sector and building urban resilience.
As Odisha is uniquely location, it has a lot of advantages for building up a vibrant logistic sector and spur trade and industry, the World Bank has stated.