Latest news with #OdiaAsmita
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Odisha: CM Mohan Majhi's achievements in the first year and challenges ahead
As the Mohan Charan Majhi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Odisha marks its first anniversary on June 12, its first year has been marked by ambitious initiatives, a focus on accessibility, and a deliberate attempt to erase the shadow of the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) long rule amid several unresolved challenges. Majhi, a Santhali tribal from mineral rich Keonjhar district and a former school teacher with RSS background, was a surprise choice for the post of chief minister as BJP ended the 24-year BJD reign under Naveen Patnaik on the promise of 'Odia Asmita' (Odia pride) and a break from the bureaucratic dominance of the BJD era. A year later, Majhi has delivered on some of the promises made by his party while more needs to be done in fulfilling others. Here are some of the achievements and unresolved challenges of the first BJP government in Odisha. Achievements: 1. Focus on cultural identity A standout achievement of the Majhi government has been its focus on cultural and religious restoration, striking a chord with locals. Within its first 100 days, the administration fulfilled a key election promise by reopening all four gates of the Srimandir (Jagannath Temple) in Puri, a move that ended years of restricted access and was widely celebrated by devotees and religious leaders. The unlocking of the Ratna Bhandar, the temple's treasury sealed for nearly four decades, cemented the government's commitment to preserving Odisha's cultural heritage. 'We've honoured the trust of Odisha's 45 million people,' Majhi said, emphasising the government's commitment to its manifesto. However, the opening of the four gates has led to massive crowding inside the temple premises, affecting pilgrim experience as the government still toys with the idea of queue system of devotees like those existing in Tirupati temple. 'It's true the BJP government opened all the four gates of the temple, but it has not found a way to improve devotee experience once they enter. The crowd management has been not very effective and it need to be sorted out soon,' said Prasad Harichandan, senior Congress leader. 2. Empowering Women through Subhadra Yojana The Subhadra Yojana, a cash transfer scheme for women between the age of 21 and 60 years, helped BJP breach BJD's women supporters in the 2024 polls. 'The scheme is financially empowering women and providing them safety nets while promoting their role as valuable members of society,' said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida. However, BJD's Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo says it is political jumla as BJP had promised the amount to all women and at one go. 'In their election manifesto, BJP did not have any exclusionary criteria and said ₹50000 would be given at one go. Now they are giving ₹10000 a year which translates to a little more than ₹800 a month and is not regular. Had the beneficiaries received ₹50000 at one go, they could have started some business enterprise at their villages,' said Deo. 3. Bonus of ₹800 per quintal of paddy to farmers However, BJD leaders alleged that the tall claims of state government notwithstanding, farmers have been taken for a ride. 'The unethical practice of katni-chhatni (deduction paddy from sacks) by rice millers continued with at least 10 kg of paddy deducted from each sack grain on the pretext of the same not meeting the fair average quality. At least 14 farmers have died by suicide over crop loss due to unseasonal rains,' alleged Pramila Mallick, senior BJD MLA. 4. Grievance redressal Unlike his predecessor Patnaik, who started his grievance redressal cell in 2000 after becoming chief minister with much fanfare and then stopped attending it completely after 2008, Majhi is using it as a citizen outreach mechanism. Additionally, it will likely help him to build a pro-people image. After Patnaik stopped attending the grievance cell hearings in 2008, BJD tried to revive it as his closest aide VK Pandian toured all the 30 districts in the lead-up to the 2024 elections for collecting grievances, but those were perceived as displays of political might rather than genuine attempts to address citizens' concerns. Majhi, on the other hand, has been personally attending the grievance redressal cell on Mondays with key ministers and secretaries, personally hearing woes of thousands of people, including the disabled, senior citizens, and those in urgent need of assistance. In April, he held a grievance cell hearing in Sambalpur, a key district in western Odisha, and has announced that next hearing would be held in Berhampur, a key town in southern Odisha. So far, he has attended 10 such hearings in which 10,234 grievance pleas have been received. Official sources said, 8,524 (83%) of the grievances have been resolved. However, not many are convinced with the effectiveness of the grievance redressal system, arguing that over a period of time, Majhi would find it difficult to attend the hearings regularly once he gets busy. 'It has been a year since the state is preparing an online portal to address the grievances, but it its yet to be operational. The government should instead focus on strengthening grievance hearing mechanisms at district and block levels, where most grievances originate,' said a former chief secretary. Unresolved challenges 1. Generating employment With over 12 lakh educated youths registered at the state's employment exchange, generating employment is the biggest challenge for the Majhi government. Though the unemployment rate in Odisha was 3.9% as per Periodic Labour Force Survey done in April this year, comparatively lower than national unemployment rate of 5.1%, the absolute numbers of unemployed graduates and undergraduates is still a major headache. As per official figures, 3.17 lakh graduates are unemployed while six lakh undergraduates are looking for jobs. BJP in its election manifesto promised to fill 65,000 vacancies in the government in its first two years, but, so far, the Majhi government has managed to fill up just about 27,000 government jobs in the last one year. 'Odisha's economy, heavily reliant on agriculture and mining, struggles with limited industrial diversification. Despite ambitious promises to create jobs through industrialization and infrastructure development, the government faces structural, economic, and social hurdles. The chief minister during the Utkarsh Odisha-Make in Odisha Conclave in January this year claimed success in attracting 593 projects worth ₹16.73 lakh crore, with a potential to create 12.88 lakh jobs across 20 sectors. However, translating these MoUs into tangible employment remains a challenge, as past industrial projects in Odisha have often prioritized capital-intensive sectors like mining and metallurgy, which offer limited job opportunities,' said economist Amarendra Das. Many see the government's recent move in raising the upper age limit for government jobs to 42 years as a half-hearted attempt. 'Where are the jobs in government sector? Practically speaking, which person would continue to apply for government job till the age of 42,' asked BJD leader Lenin Mohanty. 2. Slow action on promised action against corruption The Majhi government has drawn flak over its perceived failure in acting against senior officials whom it had accused of perpetrating scams in the Naveen Patnaik regime. VK Pandian, who served as Naveen Patnaik's private secretary for 10 years and later as chairman of the 5T (Transformational Initiatives) programme, was a central figure in the BJD regime, often accused by the BJP of wielding disproportionate control over the state's administration. After coming to power, state law minister Prithviraj Harichandan had said everything right from expenses for Pandian's helicopter tours to districts to the construction of helipads will be under investigation. Similarly, the official proceedings against powerful IPS officers DS Kuttey and Ashis Singh over their alleged interference in conduct of the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and Lok Sabha last year, ended prematurely as the two went on a central deputation. Similarly, IAS officers like Ashis Thakre who was under the glare of Orissa High Court over misuse of DMF funds, too went on central deputation recently. 'The BJP's anti-corruption rhetoric is selective. They've avoided touching Pandian's inner circle to maintain bureaucratic stability,' alleged Congress leader Santosh Singh Saluja. 'The government's inaction shows a lack of political will to dismantle the old power structure.' 3. Renaming Schemes: Symbolism Over Substance? Many see the Mohan Majhi government's decision to rename 21 schemes launched by the Naveen Patnaik government, including the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (now Ayushman Bharat Gopabandhu Jana Arogya Yojana) and KALIA (now CM-KISAN) as mere rebranding exercise. While BJP leaders argues that these changes enhance service delivery, critics, including the BJD, view them as superficial attempts to erase Biju Patnaik's legacy. 'The government renamed Ama Gaon Ama Vikash and renamed it Viksit Gaon Viksit Odisha allocating ₹5000 crore for development of 6500 panchayats gram five-year period. If you look at the allocation, it works out to a couple of lakhs for a gram panchayat every year which is too meagre for any worthwhile development work,' said BJD's Ranendra Pratap Swain. 4. Governance issues The biggest challenges that the Mohan Majhi government faces is having a smooth governance model that can deliver result. With no administrative experience, Majhi has been finding it tough to make an impression among the state's bureaucrats that has affected revenue generation as well as flow of central grant. As per official statistics, central grants in centrally-sponsored schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sichayi Yojana, and Jal Jeevan Mission to Odisha declined from ₹21,500 crore in 2023-24 to ₹17,000 crore, a fall of over 18 % while the same had gone up by over 15.48 % in 2023-24 compared to 2022-23. Mining revenue, a major source of state's non-tax revenue, too has fallen by 10 % in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24 affecting state's fiscal health. 'The state is facing a major governance deficit as bureaucrats are still unsure of the new ministers. Routine meetings take up much time leaving the officials little time to get down to work. The CM does not follow a routine in matters of governance and meetings that can wind up in 15-20 minutes often go for hours,' said a former chief secretary. Political observer Rabi Das points to government's inaction in a high-profile cases such as the one involving former Governor Raghubar Das, whose son Lalit Das allegedly assaulted a Raj Bhawan employee during President Droupadi Murmu's visit to Puri in July 2024 over his inability in arranging a luxury vehicle. Despite the gravity of the allegations, police did not register an FIR and the matter was hushed up. 'This incident, coupled with the way BJP ministers are conducting themselves are creating an impression that the CM lacks authority,' alleged Das. However, state BJP president Manmohan Samal denied the allegations saying CM consults everyone before taking a decision. 'Every CM have their own style of functioning,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Commitment made to empower every citizen: Majhi
1 2 Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday highlighted key achievements of his govt and reiterated his commitment to a 'prosperous Odisha' through transparent and accountable governance, during a meeting with BJP MPs and MLAs here on Sunday. Marking the anniversary of BJP's historic election win on June 4, 2024, and the formation of its first govt in Odisha on June 12, Majhi emphasised the past year was a period of laying strong foundations for inclusive growth and reforms. "From the farmer in the field to the student in the classroom, we made a commitment to empower every citizen. We knew expectations were high and that comparisons with the previous govt were inevitable. That is why, within 24 minutes of our first cabinet meeting, we took four historic decisions," Majhi said. He said the govt's vision for a 'prosperous Odisha' was built on four key pillars — livelihood and employment, infrastructure development, social security and welfare, and cultural pride through 'Odia Asmita'. He emphasised these priorities were shaped around four core communities — poor, farmers, youth and women — in line with the central govt's focus areas. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo "We have begun a new era of governance — one that is people-first, reform-oriented, and grounded in our Odia identity," the CM said. Bhubaneswar: CM Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday highlighted key achievements of his govt and reiterated his commitment to a 'prosperous Odisha' through transparent and accountable governance, during a meeting with BJP MPs and MLAs here on Sunday. Marking the anniversary of BJP's historic election win on June 4, 2024, and the formation of its first govt in Odisha on June 12, Majhi emphasised the past year was a period of laying strong foundations for inclusive growth and reforms. "From the farmer in the field to the student in the classroom, we made a commitment to empower every citizen. We knew expectations were high and that comparisons with the previous govt were inevitable. That is why, within 24 minutes of our first cabinet meeting, we took four historic decisions," Majhi said. He said the govt's vision for a 'prosperous Odisha' was built on four key pillars — livelihood and employment, infrastructure development, social security and welfare, and cultural pride through 'Odia Asmita'. He emphasised these priorities were shaped around four core communities — poor, farmers, youth and women — in line with the central govt's focus areas. "We have begun a new era of governance — one that is people-first, reform-oriented, and grounded in our Odia identity," the CM said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Govt committed to win people's heart in Kotia: Pujari
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Revenue and disaster management minister Suresh Pujari on Friday asserted the govt is committed to winning the hearts of the people in the disputed Kotia region, for which Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have been in a legal tussle over jurisdiction for over six decades. Pujari, who leads a newly formed 16-member committee dedicated to the development of Kotia, chaired the panel's inaugural meeting. "A comprehensive road map for the region's all-round development will be prepared within a month. The govt aims to ensure that the people of Kotia have access to quality education, healthcare and market linkages for local farmers and traders," he said. "Some of the decisions taken by the committee can't be made public at this stage. However, people would see its outcome in the days to come," Pujari stated, emphasising that Kotia is an inseparable part of Odisha. He assured that the govt is committed to doing everything necessary to win the people's hearts. The meeting also reviewed steps taken by the previous BJD govt and called for an action taken report on recommendations from a House committee that previously visited Kotia. The minister highlighted the need to review the legal position and pending cases to bring the dispute to a logical conclusion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like People Born 1940-1975 With No Life Insurance Could Be Eligible For This Reassured Get Quote Undo The committee, formed on May 23, marks a significant step towards addressing the long-standing border dispute. Pujari emphasised the focus on developing the neglected region while promoting 'Odia Asmita' and resolving the dispute. He acknowledged the complexity of the issue but expressed confidence in finding a lasting solution. The Kotia dispute, dating back to the 1960s, involves 21 of 28 villages with a population of around 5,000. Odisha filed a petition in Supreme Court in 2021 against Andhra Pradesh for violating a 1968 status quo order. The SC previously ruled in 2006 that only Parliament could determine states' territorial jurisdictions. The Pujari-led committee has been tasked with recommending steps for Kotia's development and the structure of an integrated development agency for the area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
No one will remain landless under new land scheme, vows Odisha CM
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday vowed to ensure that no one in the state remains landless. Speaking at the inauguration of a two-day revenue officers' conference in Bhubaneswar, Majhi also promised to modernise and humanise the state's revenue administration. 'Our government is committed to making the revenue system people-oriented and transparent. Anyone with less than four decimals of land will be considered landless and granted land,' Majhi said. He stressed that revenue officials at all levels must work diligently for the scheme's effective rollout. He also raised concerns over encroachments on government land, urging tehsildars to take the lead in freeing and protecting such parcels. Faster decision-making, crackdown on irregularities The CM announced upcoming reforms in the revenue sector and instructed officials to accelerate decisions on land acquisition and rejection cases, ensuring complete transparency. 'Make speedy decisions on rejection and acquisition cases. Act within deadlines and in a transparent manner,' he said. Majhi also warned against irregularities in the buying and selling of land belonging to Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) communities. 'If any wrongdoing occurs in ST or SC land deals, the responsible officer will be held accountable. The government has zero tolerance on this,' he said. 'Offices must become places of trust, not fear' The CM called tehsildars the backbone of revenue governance and urged them to make their offices approachable. 'Your office should not be a place of fear but a place of trust,' he added. He also praised revenue officials for their service during last year's Cyclone Dana. Revenue Minister and Chief Secretary call for change Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari asked officials to abandon outdated work styles. 'Since the BJP came to power, we've made revenue services more accessible. Treat people with respect and deliver timely services,' he said. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja highlighted the role of young, tech-savvy recruits in transforming public service. Marking one year of BJP in Odisha Majhi also marked the one-year anniversary of the BJP forming government in Odisha. 'A year ago, the people chose development and blessed the BJP with a mandate to form a people's government, ending 24 years of BJD rule,' he said. In a post on X, he described it as 'the victory of truth, the victory of Odia Asmita (pride).' Election background The BJP won 78 out of 147 seats in the 2024 Odisha Assembly elections, forming the government on June 12. The BJD secured 51 seats, Congress 14, CPI(M) 1, and Independents 3. Majhi, who represents Keonjhar, was sworn in as the state's first BJP Chief Minister alongside two deputies and 13 ministers, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Print
6 days ago
- Business
- The Print
People's trust gives us strength to work, to fulfil our promises: Odisha CM Mohan Majhi
'A year ago, on this day, you chose development; you wanted positive change in Odisha and blessed the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a people's government. This was the victory of truth, the victory of 'Asmita' (Odia pride)', Majhi said in a post on X. This was the victory of truth, the victory of Odia Asmita (pride), he said. Bhubaneswar, Jun 4 (PTI) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday said on this day, a year ago the people of Odisha chose development and blessed the Bharatiya Janata Party to form a 'people's government' in the state, ending the 24-year rule of the Biju Janata Dal headed by Naveen Patnaik. He said, 'Your trust gives us strength to work. Your trust inspires us to fulfil all our promises. In honour of the trust, confidence and hope you have placed in us, our government has been and will continue to strive to build a prosperous and developed Odisha by serving the people of Odisha.' The BJP formally formed its government in the state on June 12, 2024, after the saffron party was declared winner on June 4 by getting 78 seats in the 147-member Odisha Assembly while the BJD won 51 seats followed by Congress (14), CPI(M) (1) and Independents (3). Majhi who won from the Keonjhar assembly seat, was a surprise pick of the BJP as its first Chief Minister in Odisha. He took the oath of office along with two deputy chief ministers and 13 other ministers on June 12 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 'Though BJP formed government in Odisha due to number game, the people have cast more votes in favour of BJD than the saffron party candidates. The people have trust in Naveen Ji and his leadership,' BJD senior vice-president Debi Prasad Mishra said. Mishra said the Biju Janata Dal is performing its role as a 'responsible' opposition party in Odisha. PTI AAM AAM RG This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
