Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi attended the state-level ‘Vigilance Awareness Week’ event organized by Odisha Vigilance on October 28 at the Convention Centre, Lok Seva Bhavan, Bhubaneswar.
CM Majhi led the integrity pledge, as distributed by the Central Vigilance Commission, for government officials and employees of public sector undertakings, along with the citizens of the state.
Giving a stern warning to the corrupt officers, the Chief Minister said that corruption will not be tolerated at any level. Just as cancer has to be surgically removed, corrupt people are thrown out of civilized society and sent to jail. Within 140 days of our government, 6 Chief Engineers have been arrested on charges of embezzlement. Their property was confiscated and they were prosecuted. Various infrastructure works were substandard. Government money was getting in the way. Not only the Chief Engineers but also about 20 officers of various categories have been arrested on charges of corruption.
The Chief Minister said that we are moving forward with the goal of placing Odisha among the five prosperous states of India by the year 2029. This will be possible with the help of all of you. Remembering the prosperous Odisha of the past, we have to move forward to build a developed Odisha by 2036.
During the event, the Chief Minister declared the upcoming establishment of a Vigilance Forensic Science Institute in the state. He detailed that Odisha Vigilance will soon welcome eight SPs, an equal number of Additional SPs, 24 DSPs, and 16 SIs to enhance the department’s efficiency. Additionally, 24 specialists, including cyber experts, chartered accountants, and bank professionals, will join Odisha Vigilance. The department will also soon equip its personnel with 135 motorbikes and 160 desktops/laptops.
On this occasion, Koraput SP PK Dwivedi received recognition as the best anti-corruption officer for the year 2023. The Bolangir Vigilance Unit was similarly commended for its efforts. Dushmanth Nayak from Balasore Vigilance and DSP Shabitanchali Naik from the Berhampur Vigilance Division were acknowledged as the Best IOs. Additionally, Hemant Kumar Swavik, the public prosecutor at the Vigilance Court, was celebrated as the best public prosecutor.
The event was broadcast live by the Odisha I&PR Department, enabling countless members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), ASHA and Anganwadi workers, and students across the state to participate in the oath-taking ceremony.
The Electronics & IT Department, Odisha connected all District Collectorate and Block offices of Odisha through video conferencing through the OSWAN network for government functionaries to take the integrity pledge administered by the Chief Minister. Odisha Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja was the guest of honour on the occasion.
The best Vigilance Division, Vigilance Unit, Investigating Officer, Woman Investigating Officer and Public Prosecutor were awarded in the function. The state Vigilance is coordinating the observance of Vigilance Awareness Week all over the state in a befitting manner.
During this event, a variety of competitions such as debates, quizzes, cartoons, slogans, paintings, rangoli, and posters centred on anti-corruption themes are being organized for school and college students across each district. The district-level winners will be honoured at functions held by the respective divisions/units of Odisha Vigilance as part of the Vigilance Awareness Week 2024 celebrations.
Throughout Vigilance Awareness Week, public meetings will take place at district headquarters, engaging students, youth, academics, current and former government officials, self-help groups, NGOs, civil society, and members from both the public and private sectors, as well as the media, to enhance public awareness of corruption’s dangers and to garner support from all stakeholders in the anti-corruption drive.
