Odisha Govt rechristens three major departments

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government today decided to rename three major departments and merge certain wings with newly created administrative set-ups.

The proposals in this regard was approved at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here.

The Pancahyati Raj department would now be known as Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department, while WCD was changed to Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti department.

Similarly, the General Administration department would now be General Administration and Public Grievances department, Chief Secretary A P Padhi.

He said the RWSS (rural water supply and sanitation), now under the rural development department would be merged with the Panchayati Raj department for better services.

"The aim behind Mission Shakti was to empower more women in the social and economic sectors. A Mission Shakti directorate will be formed under the WCD department," Padhi said.

The cabinet also gave its nod to other decisions including giving 200 acres subsidised land to IISER at Berhampur.