Sambalpur: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi heard complaints of 1,400 people during his grievance hearing session, held for the first time outside, state capital, in Sambalpur city on Monday.
The session held at saw over 1,000 complaints registered online and 1,400 offline. Officials said that a single-window system adopted for grievance redressal facilitated immediate assistance, particularly for those battling critical or incurable diseases.
A total of 18 persons received medical aid amounting to Rs 19.5 lakh through the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for medical treatment expenses. A dedicated medical team was also stationed at the grievance cell to expedite this process.
Apart from medical aid, citizens raised a range of issues, from pension disputes to infrastructure needs. Each complaint was addressed with urgency, with ministers and senior officials issuing direct instructions to relevant authorities, often via telephone
Today’s session was a remarkable display of accessible governance as the Chief Minister, accompanied by a robust contingent of Ministers and officials, transformed the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation office into a hub of public grievance redressal.
As per an official statement, the premises were teeming with citizens eager to voice their concerns directly to the state’s top leadership, marking the 10th session of this initiative. The government brought its entire administrative machinery to Sambalpur, embodying the spirit of a “people’s government.”
The CM was joined by 10 cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling, among others.
Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries Satyabrata Sahu, Surendra Kumar, and Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, along with other secretary-level officers, ensured a seamless process.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister described the grievance redressal programme as a ‘positive message’ for the government, the people, Odisha, and democracy itself.
Majhi highlighted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had praised the initiative, noting that Modi’s guidance has inspired the administration to forge closer ties with the public.
“Our goal is to achieve Odisha’s broader development while ensuring that the struggles of the poor and helpless are not ignored,” the CM said.
“While the previous government was indifferent to such concerns, we have resolved to hold grievance redressal sessions across the state. Today, it’s Sambalpur; tomorrow, it will be other regions,” he said.
Regarding past sessions, the Chief Minister noted that the previous nine grievance hearings in Bhubaneswar had recorded 9,377 complaints, with 88% resolved and the remainder in progress. “Our regional grievance redressal programs ensure that officials address issues at their level promptly, fostering greater awareness of public needs,” he said, adding that clear directives have been issued for swift resolution of all complaints.
