World Bank praises OSEDP work

The overall achievement in the implementation of the programmes taken up with Word Bank assistance under the Orissa Socio Economic Development Programme (OSEDP) is satisfactory.

While the outcome in two components like economic growth enhancing reforms and fiscal reforms were better than target set by the bank, the achievement was not up to the level of satisfaction in areas like service delivery and human development.

“The achievement of the state in terms of growth related activities and fiscal correction was better than the target but it was not satisfactory in service delivery and human development components”, V J Ravishankar, lead economist, South Asia Poverty Reduction and Economics Management of World Bank, told Business Standard. On the state availing the 3rd tranche of OSEP loan, he said, the proposal is pending with the Government of India and yet to come to the Bank for consideration.

However, the bank is positive about extending the required loan to Orissa, he added. Orissa availed $ 225 million under the second tranche and is seeking $250 million in the third tranche of OSEP loan.

Ravishankar, who was here to deliberate on the Implementation Completion & Results Report (ICRR)with the state government officials said, the outcome has been far above the target in economic growth enhancing reforms like private investment, growth of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), fiscal correction and compliance with the FRBM act, fiscal management including the submission of utilisation certificates of Central assistance, public enterprises reforms was above the target fixed by the World Bank. The growth rate of Orissa during the 10th plan period was higher than the national average, which was an important achievement.

Similarly, the outcome was very close to the target with respect to streamlining the public administration, Orissa Management of Government Initiative (OMGI), anti-corruption including the procurement reforms and improving the effectiveness of health services delivery. However, the outcome was short of target or not measured in the field of agricultural marketing reform, power sector reform and re-organisation of schools and mass education department by the state government.