CM asks revenue officials to resolve grievances at local level
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Bhubaneswar: In a bid to streamline grievance redressal at the grassroots level, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday directed revenue department officials to resolve public complaints at block and tehsil levels to the extent possible, eliminating the need for citizens to travel to the state capital.
Pointing out that most grievances reaching his office can be addressed locally, Majhi emphasised the crucial role of tehsildars and other tehsil and block level officials in bridging the gap between govt and citizens through prompt and patient handling of public grievances. He was speaking after inaugurating a two-day conference of revenue department officials.
Directing revenue officers to promptly address people's grievances, he emphasised that their offices should be 'places of trust, not fear' for the public.
Speaking at the State-Level Revenue Officers' Conference, Majhi stressed that corruption would not be tolerated under any circumstances. "Dedication to public service and not the position one holds should be the standard to judge the govt officers," Majhi said.
"The revenue department is a reflection of a clean and efficient govt. We have a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption," Majhi said, addressing tehsildars whom he described as "the backbone of the state's grassroots administration."
He further said that no one would remain landless in Odisha, with those owning less than four decimals of land being considered landless and eligible for govt land allocation. He directed revenue officers to ensure effective implementation of this initiative.
Highlighting the department's recent achievements, Majhi praised the successful handling of Cyclone Dana in October last year when 8.1 lakh people were safely evacuated to 6,210 shelters, thus, achieving the 'zero casualty' mission.
He warned against irregularities in tribal and scheduled caste land transactions, stating that officers would face consequences for knowingly committed errors. He also urged officers to prepare for the upcoming monsoon season and follow meteorological updates diligently.
Revenue minister Suresh Pujari called for modernisation of working methods and emphasised the importance of treating citizens with courtesy. The conference, attended by district sub-collectors, additional collectors and tehsildars, will continue for two days. Additional chief secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, chief secretary Manoj Ahuja and development commissioner Anu Garg spoke in the meeting attended by tehsildars, sub-collectors and additional collectors.
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