Latest news with #JanaSunani
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
BJD chief used to read out written speeches, says Majhi
Bhubaneswar: A day after Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik's 'long speeches do not make development' jibe, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday claimed that the BJD chief read write-ups instead of speaking to the people directly when he was the chief minister. Majhi made the comment while addressing the 'State Level Vikas Mela' here being held to mark the completion of his government's one year in office on June 12. 'The Leader of the Opposition ridiculed the BJP government over my long speeches and alleged non-performance. What (Patnaik) were you doing all along? You used to read out written speeches. You had no link with the people. Just waving to people for two minutes and never attending the CM's Grievance Cell for 16 years,' Majhi said. Majhi also attacked Patnaik over his style of governance and alleged that a handful of officers from the CMO used to attend CM's Grievance Cell and collect petitions from people. 'Those petitions were thrown into the dustbins. What prevented you from meeting people and listening to their grievances? Finally, people rejected your government,' Majhi said. After ruling the State for 24 years, the BJD was defeated by the BJP in the Assembly elections last year. At a party programme on Tuesday, Patnaik accused the Mohan Charan Majhi dispensation of focusing only on long speeches and publicity, instead of real development. Noting that he became Chief Minister of Odisha starting his political career as a 'Sarpanch', Majhi claimed he understands the plights of people at the grassroots level. Majhi said the CM's grievance hearing sessions are also now being held outside Bhubaneswar and attended by people in large numbers. 'Of the 10,894 grievances heard in grievance sessions, 9,388 cases were resolved. More than 5 lakh grievances were resolved through Jana Sunani portal,' an official note said. Referring to Patnaik's allegations that women's empowerment has been grossly affected as Mission Shakti initiative is being weakened in the BJP government, Majhi alleged that the former chief minister has insulted women. Majhi said, 'Making provision of some funds does not make women empowered. During our small tenure, the BJP government has created over 16 lakh Lakhpati Didis. Women get financial assistance through Subhadra Yojana and utilise them in small businesses. What prevented you from giving financial assistance to the women for doing business?' Majhi also came down heavily on the BJD president on the farmer's issue. 'You (BJD government) had promised to give Rs 100 per quintal of paddy as subsidy, but failed. We in the BJP government are giving Rs 800 per quintal of paddy as input subsidy. The farmers in Odisha now sell their paddy at the rate of Rs 3,100 per quintal,' the Chief Minister said. Around 17 lakh farmers' families have added Rs 30,000 per annum to their income after the BJP formed the government in the State, he said.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Grievance hearing at districts a good step
On April 21, Odisha turned a new page in its governance model. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and his cabinet sat down in Sambalpur for a day-long Jana Sunani or public grievance hearing, with senior officials from all departments in attendance. For the first time in the state's history, the people had the chief minister and his ministers coming to them to listen to their problems. Majhi gave a patient hearing to many of the 2,400 people who turned up and instructed officials to address their issues at the earliest. He walked up to the elderly and those in wheelchairs. Financial assistance of Rs 19.50 lakh was announced for 18 critically ill people on the spot. Team Majhi's next scheduled stop is the southern city of Berhampur. The decision to move Jana Sunani sessions out of the capital and to the districts marks a welcome shift towards making the government accessible. It is also a sharp departure from the manner in which the government was run for 24 years under Naveen Patnaik, who hardly held grievance hearings despite having a dedicated Chief Minister's Grievance Cell; his last public interaction at the Cell was way back in 2008. In contrast, Majhi revived the defunct Cell immediately after assuming power. Since the launch of Jana Sunani last July, nearly 9,500 grievances have been received, with 88 percent of them reportedly resolved. The move can be read in two parts. One, as a genuine attempt to decentralise governance and make the administration more responsive to the people. With the CM himself taking the government to the people's doorstep, layers of alienation are removed and the local administrative apparatus is compelled to act with greater sensitivity and urgency. This is also a clear approach by Majhi to establish himself as what he proclaims to be—'the people's CM'—as against Naveen who was aloof and detached. Two, it is a calculated move to rein in the bureaucracy which had taken absolute control during the Patnaik regime, and restore the political leadership's upper hand. Either way, this is a promising step on both the governance and political fronts. Close engagement with the public would make the government understand their real needs and expectations in a better manner. Politically, the ruling dispensation will keep a finger on the pulse.
New Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Mohan Majhi shifts base to Sambalpur for first regional Jana Sunani, citizens elated
SAMBALPUR: In a first-of-its-kind citizen outreach initiative by the state government, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi along with his council of ministers and senior officials temporarily shifted base to Sambalpur on Monday to conduct a regional public grievance hearing. Held at the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation office, the programme marked the 10th session of the Jana Sunani (public grievance hearing) and the first to take place outside Bhubaneswar, drawing thousands of people from across the Western Odisha region. The session, which began at 8 am and continued for over four hours, witnessed participation of more than 1,400 people who presented their complaints directly to the chief minister and his team. Among the complainants were 18 critically ill patients who received immediate financial assistance amounting to Rs 19.50 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Addressing the media after concluding the hearing, the chief minister said, 'Today is a happy day for us. Within 10 months of coming to power, we have been able to give a direct platform to the poor and affected citizens of the state to present their grievances. Sambalpur is the first regional stop outside Bhubaneswar. We are committed to taking this initiative to other districts as well.' Criticising the previous BJD government, Majhi said, 'For the last 16 years, the grievance redressal system was mostly led by bureaucrats without direct involvement of the chief minister. People had to wait for a long time to reach their representatives. We have changed that by being present before the people and resolving their problems.' Since the launch of Jana Sunani in July last year, the CM said, 9,377 grievances have been received in nine sessions with 88 per cent already resolved. 'Such outreach encourages accountability among officers and ensures quicker redressal. I've instructed all departments to resolve issues raised today at the earliest,' he said. He also highlighted that the initiative has received praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who termed it a positive example of grassroots governance and direct engagement with citizens. The hearing also saw several heart-touching moments. Nalini Behera, a 70-year-old woman from Angul who alleged fraudulent encroachment of her land, broke down while narrating her case to the CM. 'I've been running from pillar to post for years with no response. This is for the first time, I felt someone truly listened to my woes,' she said. Likewise, farmers from Bargarh and Bheden areas raised concerns over irrigation and procurement issues. Many expressed satisfaction over being able to directly communicate their long-pending demands to the CM. The chief minister's interactions with elderly and disabled citizens drew appreciation from all sections, particularly as he stepped off the dais several times to meet individuals in wheelchairs or those unable to walk. Dy CM and 11 ministers take part in Jana Sunani However, not all were satisfied. National-level women football players from Sambalpur, including Madhumita Meher, who have been demanding government jobs under the sports quota, failed to get a hearing due to lack of time. Despite raising the issue with district collector on several occasions, no progress has been made. The players, though, expressed hope that their application would now be reviewed by the department concerned as they could meet one of the officials. The hearing was attended by several key ministers, including deputy CM Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Revenue minister Suresh Pujari, Rural Development minister Rabi Narayan Naik, School and Mass Education minister Nityananda Gond, Food Supplies minister Krushna Chandra Patra, Health minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Steel and Mines minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena, Housing and Urban Development minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, Forest and Environment minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia, Handlooms minister Pradeep Bal Samanta, Skill Development minister Sampad Chandra Swain and Higher Education minister Suryabanshi Suraj. Secretaries from various departments, MLAs, and district collectors from across Western Odisha were also present.
