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In a unique exercise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed 600-odd district collectors across the country via video-conference, assigning them new tasks for speeding up development.

The first-of-its-kind interaction with district collectors was to mark the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Quit India Movement.

Modi told the collectors that, "as representatives of their districts," they must decide on the goals that should be accomplished in their respective districts by 2022. They must list all deficiencies that must be overcome for ensuring certain services.

Modi urged the collectors to "move beyond files and go to the field, to understand ground realities, such as the condition of health services in remote parts of the district."

He said the more a collector visits the field, the more active he will be on file. On the GST, the Prime Minister asked collectors to explain to traders in their district, how it is a “Good and Simple Tax.”

The PM said some districts have always lagged in basic services such as electricity, water, education and health. He said ’’If the socio-economic conditions improve in the 100 most backward districts, it would give a big boost to the overall development parameters of the country. This puts an onus on the collectors of these districts to work in a mission mode."

Modi wanted the collectors to replicate ideas and scale up best practices of other districts where good results are being achieved in a particular field or scheme.

He asked the collectors to seek help from colleagues, "intellectuals" of the district, and students of schools and colleges, to prepare a vision document, or resolution document for their district before August 15.