Grievance redressal govt’s top priority, says CM Majhi

Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday said grievance hearing remains the govt’s top priority and among the 15-point directives issued to the administration on New Year’s Day to make governance more people-oriented, maximum emphasis has been laid on grievance redressal.

Speaking to media persons after a grievance hearing programme, the CM said, “Officials from the secretariat down to block and tehsil level have been instructed to resolve people’s complaints through field visits. Regular grievance hearings at the state level are showing results at the district level as well. Collectors and SPs are now conducting hearings routinely, making grievance redressal a regular administrative practice across Odisha.”


Monday marked the CM’s 17th round of grievance hearing. According to official data, the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell has received 14,054 petitions in the last 16 rounds, of which, 13,169 have been resolved — a disposal rate of 94%. The remaining cases are under process.

On Monday, besides the CM, five ministers and senior officials attended the programme. As per practice, Majhi first met differently-abled persons outside the cell, listened to their problems and directed officials to take immediate steps. Of the 32 disabled complainants, he sanctioned medical assistance of Rs 1 lakh to a man in Bhadrak district, who is suffering from a serious illness, and Rs 1.5 lakh to a native of Jajpur district. He also instructed departments concerned to act on other applications seeking medical support.

The CM further directed officials to provide travel expenses, along with medical facilities, to a woman who had come from Patnagarh for treatment of her kidney and neurological ailments. He personally interacted with all disabled and seriously ill complainants, heard their grievances with compassion and ordered swift resolution. Later, he took up petitions of other registered complainants inside the cell.