Odisha CM Pledges Transparent Governance, Youth Jobs, and Zero-Tolerance Against Corruption

Speaking on the additional demand of ₹59.36 crore for the financial year 2025-26, the Chief Minister described the initiatives as critical for strengthening public service delivery and administrative reforms.

Key Highlights from the Speech

Massive Government Recruitment Drive

• The government has set a target to fill 1.5 lakh vacant posts in a transparent manner over five years.
• In the last 18 months, appointment letters have been distributed to 37,371 candidates through employment fairs.
• Another 43,447 posts will be filled in the coming months.
• The maximum age limit for government jobs has been raised to 42 years to enable more candidates to apply.
• Cabinet has approved the formation of the Odisha Uniformed Services Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OUSSSC) for streamlined recruitment.
• The Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, has been enacted to curb malpractices in competitive exams.
• Relaxation in rules to provide compassionate appointments to daughters and step-daughters of deceased government employees, irrespective of marital status.
• 10% horizontal reservation for retired Agniveers in Group C and D uniformed services.

Citizen-Centric Grievance Redressal

• The Chief Minister personally attended grievance hearings and met nearly 12,000 citizens in the last 18 months.
• Through the Jan Sunani portal, 3,79,160 complaints were received, of which 2,84,199 (approximately 75%) have been resolved.
• Weekly joint grievance hearings at the district level have resolved 15,771 cases so far.
• Additional Chief Secretaries and Additional District Magistrates appointed as nodal officers for faster disposal of complaints.

Zero-Tolerance Policy on Corruption

• Vigilance Department has registered 324 cases against 554 persons in the last 18 months, including 94 Class-I officers, 63 Class-II officers, and others ranging from IAS officers to peons.
• Disproportionate assets worth ₹208.23 crore seized; 82 cases filed against 147 individuals.
• Assets seized include 832 plots, 8 farmhouses, 84 acres of land, ₹92 crore in cash, and 24 kg of gold jewellery.
• 322 persons arrested, including 66 Class-I and 47 Class-II officers.
• Odisha’s conviction rate in vigilance cases exceeds 50% — the highest in the country.
• 33 serving officers dismissed, and pensions of 65 retired officers stopped following conviction.

Land and Administrative Reforms

•  Large tracts of government land were allocated for the construction of Rajswa Bhawan, the composite disaster management office, Atithi Bhawan for visitors from districts, and Mission Shakti Bhawan.
• “Bhubaneswar Land Use Intelligence System (BLUIS)” was launched to identify and remove encroachments online.
• 389 eviction drives conducted; over 82 acres of government land freed and protected.

Chief Minister’s Relief Fund

•  ₹18.62 crore disbursed for medical treatment, assistance to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients, road accident victims, etc.
• ₹32.38 crore provided to 1,01,517 families under the Harishchandra Sahayata Yojana.
• Government contribution to CMRF increased from ₹60 crore to ₹65 crore, with an additional ₹20 crore provision this year.

Concluding his speech, the Chief Minister urged the House to approve the supplementary demand of ₹59.36 crore, stating that the funds would further strengthen people-friendly programmes and administrative reforms essential for achieving the vision of a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and contributing to a developed India by 2047.

The supplementary demand was subsequently passed by the Assembly.