Aiming to improve its ratings in ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and be among the top three states, Odisha has targeted to implement all reforms listed under ‘Business Reforms Action Plan 2017’ by the end of July. The action plan has 405 points relating to 18 administrative departments. So far, the government departments have ensured compliance with 173 action points. Twelve action points are found not to be applicable. The balance 235 points are concerned with the digitisation of 47 services.
Among the services that would be uploaded online are registration of VAT, CST, professional tax, entry tax and entertainment tax, online filing of returns, online tax payment, power connection application, consent to establish and operate, property registration, application for trade license & renewal of license, application for change of land use, land allotment application and permission to draw water for industries. At the last round of rankings under ‘Ease of Doing Business’, Odisha had tanked to the 11th slot, from seventh held earlier. The slip in ranking was despite the state’s improvement in overall score from 58 to 90. But, with the top states achieving a score between 93 and 98, Odisha is looking to improve its overall score as well to outpace its peers.