MANUAL-1 

Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties

[Section-4(1) (b) (i)]

1. Aims and Objectives of the Organization:

To provide basic minimum facilities like safe drinking water, mobilize sanitation activity and provide connectivity to rural habitation.

2. Mission/Vision:

(i) To improve road communication in rural areas of Orissa, by ensuring complementarities with 
categories of roads under other Departments and institutions with a view to promoting economic growth, easy movement of goods and people, access  to markets, social infrastructures etc.,

(ii) Provide safe drinking water to rural habitations and schools; and

(iii) Promote sanitation in rural areas of the State. 

3. Brief History and Background:

The Rural Development Department was created on 1st July 1990 to deal with Minor Irrigation, Lift Irrigation, Rural Road, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation sectors. Later, in 1996, the Department was restructured and Minor Irrigation and Lift Irrigation were transferred to Water Resources Department. At present, the Rural Development Department has two organizations i.e. (i) Rural Works and (ii) Rural Water Supply & Sanitation.

The Rural Works organization implements rural connectivity programme. Programmes with NABARD assistance under RIDF, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), RLTAP for KBK districts and Constituency-wise Allotment (CWA) are in implementation to improve rural connectivity. This organization also looks after the maintenance and upkeep of public buildings in rural areas borne under the books of R.D. Department. The Rural Water Supply & Sanitation organization implements rural drinking water supply programme by utilizing the outlay under Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), Special Central Assistance (SCA) under RLTAP for KBK districts and Swajaldhara. It also implements rural sanitation programme under the centrally sponsored Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC). Besides implementing the schemes and programmes in general, both these organizations provide emergency support service during natural calamities.

For the successful implementation of community-based and demandresponsive programmes such as Swajaldhara and Total Sanitation Campaign,Orissa State Water and Sanitation Mission, a registered society under the aegis of Rural Development Department, was constituted and established vide Resolution No.9990/RD date.05.05.2002. The Mission works in collaboration with UNICEF and concerned Govt. Departments, PRIs, NGOs etc.

 Postal address:

Rural Development Department
Government of Orissa Secretariat,
Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar
PIN-751001

Working hours:

10 AM to 5 PM on working days (All days excluding holidays).

 Grievance Redressal Mechanism:

A grievance cell is functioning in the Department. The grievance petitions are attended to, monitored and action taken in the matter is communicated to the petitioners.

 One Integrated Grievance Redressal System has also been working in the name of "Sanjog Help Line", under which one toll free number i.e. 18003456770 has been provided for receiving of complain on water supply, sanitation and roads taken under PMGSY and to redress it.