Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi presented an ambitious roadmap for the General Administration and Public Grievances Department in the Odisha Assembly, outlining a Rs. 707 crore, 4 lakh, and 89 thousand demand for grants for the 2025-26 financial year.
In a detailed address, Majhi emphasized his government’s unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption, enhancing governance, and fostering all-round development, aligning Odisha with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Developed India.”
Expressing gratitude to the Speaker for the opportunity to respond to the House’s discussions, Majhi invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath and underscored the trust of Odisha’s 4.5 crore citizens as the cornerstone of his administration.
“Guided by our beloved Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we are working tirelessly to transform Odisha into a developed state by 2036 and make it the number one state in India,” he declared. Central to this mission, he said, is the pivotal role of the General Administration and Public Grievances Department.
Majhi framed corruption as a “cancer” gnawing at society’s foundations, likening it to a termite that hollows out a home. “To build a developed Odisha, we must uproot this menace,” he asserted, highlighting a “zero tolerance” policy that has been in action since his government’s first day in June 2024.
The results, he noted, are tangible: in the past nine months, 173 cases have been filed against 312 individuals, with 156 arrests, 297 investigations completed, and 123 convictions in 82 cases. Eleven public servants have been sacked, and assets worth Rs. 131.9 crore linked to 97 individuals have been seized in 53 disproportionate assets cases.
“Those who slept peacefully on piles of ill-gotten wealth in the past now live in fear—and they should, because this fear is good,” Majhi quipped, urging citizens to report corrupt officials for swift action.
To bolster this anti-corruption drive, the government has allocated Rs. 133.37 crore for the State Vigilance Directorate’s administrative expenses and Rs. 36.7 crore for its infrastructure development in 2025-26. “Our aim is to instill fear in the corrupt while ensuring justice for the people,” Majhi said.
The Chief Minister also spotlighted efforts to make governance more accessible and responsive. Reviving the long-dormant Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, Majhi has personally overseen hearings since July 1, 2024, resolving 83 percent of the 9,377 grievances received so far. An online booking system has streamlined the process, while a special assistance center now provides immediate financial aid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the poor facing health crises.
“This is a people’s government, inspired by PM Modi’s ethos of being a ‘Pradhan Sevak’ rather than just a leader,” he said. Weekly district-level hearings and plans for revenue division-level sessions aim to bring solutions closer to citizens.
On the welfare front, Majhi detailed significant allocations from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund: Rs. 15.37 crore for 525 cases of medical treatment and accident victim support, and Rs. 7.3 crore to District Collectors for rehabilitation efforts. The Harishchandra Sahayata Yojana’s revolving fund per Gram Panchayat has been hiked from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000, with the state’s contribution to the Relief Fund rising 8 percent to Rs. 65 crore for 2025-26.
Employment generation emerged as another priority, with 26,134 youth appointed to government posts between June 2024 and March 18, 2025. Of 85,434 vacant positions, 40,854 have been approved for direct recruitment, with 33,802 already in process. A 10 percent reservation for Agniveers and a new law, the Odisha Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, aim to ensure fair and transparent hiring.
Majhi also addressed housing and infrastructure needs, allocating Rs. 15 crore for constructing quarters in Bhubaneswar, Rs. 52.86 crore for maintaining government residences, and Rs. 10 crore for repairing MLA Colony homes. An additional Rs. 60 crore will transform the Gopabandhu Administrative Academy into a global training hub, while Rs. 10.88 crore will tackle land encroachments through boundary walls and evictions.
Reflecting on land grabbing concerns in Bhubaneswar, Majhi warned, “If irregularities are found, guilty officials and beneficiaries should brace for action.” Proposals to amend land settlement rules signal a push for greater transparency.
Closing his address, Majhi proposed the Rs. 707 crore grant—Rs. 484.93 crore for administrative costs and Rs. 222.10 crore for programs—urging the House to pass it. “This is about building a transparent, accountable Odisha that fulfills the dreams of its people,” he concluded.
