Bhubaneswar: In a significant gesture of compassion, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi allocated Rs 13.5 lakh to 14 persons to support their medical expenses during the eleventh public grievance hearing session held at Unit-II in Bhubaneswar on Monday.
The financial assistance was provided to people suffering from chronic diseases and those unable to access the state’s single-window grievance system.
Around 1,000 complainants had registered online for the session, where the Chief Minister and six senior ministers heard the grievances of the people. The program was managed by Additional Chief Secretaries and Secretary-level officers, ensuring smooth proceedings throughout.
After listening to the complaints, the Chief Minister directed concerned departmental ministers and secretaries to take immediate action. Attendees left satisfied after directly meeting the Chief Minister, who reassured them with his commitment to addressing their concerns.
As part of the event’s customary routine, Majhi began the session early in the morning by personally meeting differently-abled individuals and those with chronic illnesses who had been waiting outside to share their problems.
In response to the urgent needs of those suffering from chronic health issues and unable to access the single-window system, the Chief Minister provided immediate medical assistance from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. The following persons received compassionate financial aid for their medical expenses: Santosh Biswal (Nayagarh) – Rs. 50,000, Bishnu Charan Sahu (Jajpur) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Laxmidhar Sethi (Bhadrak) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Sattwik Kar (Cuttack) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Naveen Kumar Sethi (Keonjhar) – Rs. 2 Lakh, Sunita Chaudhary (Mayurbhanj) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Prashant Kumar Panda (Cuttack) – Rs. 50,000, Nilakantha Pradhan (Boudh) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Jadumani Karmi (Boudh) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Chhaya Nayak (Ganjam) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Budhia Mandal (Bhadrak) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Kamala Nayak (Nabarangpur) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Kailasha Palei (Khordha) – Rs. 1 Lakh, Suresh Kumar Jena (Cuttack) – Rs. 50,000. A total of Rs. 13.5 lakh was provided to 14 persons as part of this initiative.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Majhi expressed that the public grievance redressal system has garnered increased trust from the people.
“We continue to listen to the grievances of the public and take necessary actions to address them. Our government is dedicated to supporting the poor and the needy. This initiative will also extend to regional levels in the near future,” said Majhi.
As of the 10th round of hearings, out of 10,234 grievances received, 8,713 have been resolved, marking an 85% resolution rate. The remaining grievances are still under process.
Ministers who were present during the session included Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari, Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr. Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Minister for Schools and Mass Education Nityananda Gond, Industries Minister Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister for Cooperatives and Handlooms Pradeep Bal Samanta, and Forests Minister Ganesh Ram SinghKhuntia.
The event was also attended by Additional Chief Secretaries Satyabrat Sahu and Surendra Kumar, along with senior officers from various departments, all of whom played a pivotal role in the successful organization of the session.
