Bhubaneswar, 02 June (H.S.): Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday urged probationers to develop a clear understanding of government schemes and focus on their effective implementation. He also emphasized the need to respond to emerging national economic challenges, including foreign exchange pressure arising from dependence on global energy imports.

The Governor was interacting with OFS and OT&AS probationers of the 2023 batch from the Madhusudan Das Regional Academy of Financial Management (MDRAFM) at New Abhishek Hall in Lok Bhavan.

The Governor said trainee officers should understand both policy objectives and ground-level realities so that government schemes can be implemented efficiently and benefits reach the intended beneficiaries.

Referring to current economic issues, the Governor highlighted the impact of geopolitical tensions in West Asia on crude oil imports and foreign exchange reserves. He noted that India spends a large amount of foreign exchange on crude oil imports and said that small changes in public behaviour can also help reduce pressure on the economy.

He called for reduced dependence on petrol and diesel and encouraged a gradual shift towards electric vehicles. He also mentioned that the Governor’s official convoy has been using electric vehicles for nearly a year. He added that the growth of electric mobility should go hand in hand with clean energy generation, referring to the PM Surya Ghar scheme and the potential of rooftop solar systems to support EV charging.

The Governor also suggested prudence in certain discretionary spending habits. He said postponing purchases of gold and reducing foreign travel for some time could help ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves. He also mentioned reducing edible oil consumption as part of broader efforts to support economic stability.

He urged officers to study key welfare schemes such as PMSBY, PMJJBY, Mukhya Mantri Krushi Udyog Yojana, and Mukhya Mantri Kamadhenu Yojana in detail, saying that proper knowledge is essential for effective public service delivery. He also encouraged eligible officers to enrol in applicable social security schemes.

The Governor interacted individually with the officers during the session. The Director of MDRAFM, Santosh Kumar Suar, briefed the Governor on the training of the probationers on the occasion.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda