BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to provide corruption-free people-centric governance in the state.
Addressing mediapersons ahead of the completion of one-year of BJP rule in Odisha, Majhi said the government was signle-mindedly focused on providing good governance to the people and ensuring all-round welfare. At the same time, it was promise-bound to root out corruption.
“People have elected our government for five years. We are going to complete one year on June 12, and in this short period of time, criminal action has been initiated against 200 government officials, from peons to IAS officers, mostly in corruption and disproportionate asset cases. Some of them have been sent to jail including the latest in Dharamgarh where an IAS officer has been booked under Prevention of Corruption Act,” Majhi said.
He further said, “I belong to a community is which most of the people are very simple and clear-hearted. But, do not mistake my simplicity as my weakness. I am warning those who indulge in corrupt practices that they will face imprisonment - there is no escape.”
While there have been allegations that his government has decidedly gone slow on major corruption cases under the previous BJD regime from mining scam, chit fund scam to irregularities in 5T initiative, Majhi asserted that all cases are under scanner.
“Our government is not sitting idle. Some of the cases are taking time as work is on to collect requisite information and solidify documentary evidences. We will certainly take action against those involved in corruption and embezzlement of public money no matter how powerful they are,” he said.
To a query on the delay in appointment of chairpersons and members of Lokayukta, he said selection process is on for an early appointment of the anti-corruption Ombudsman. Apart from the chairperson, three members’ posts are lying vacant for more than a year.
On extension of 11.25 per cent OBC quota to medical, engineering and other professional courses, Majhi said the issue is under active consideration of the government and a decision will be taken at an appropriate time.
Similar was the response when asked about his cabinet expansion and political appointment to government corporations and boards.
Coming down heavily on the previous government, the chief minister said the state missed the target to cover all household with pipe water supply because ‘south Indian contractors’ who were assigned majority of the contracts left midway leaving the projects in limbo.
“We have restrated the work and I am sure our government will provide piped drinking water to 90 per cent of the population in the state by next year,” he said.
On the employment front, Majhi said his government has given appointment to around 28,000 people in the first year and it has been decided to recruit 40,000 more in the second year. The BJP in its manifesto has promised to provide jobs to 65,000 people in the first two years and 1.5 lakh in five years.
Earlier in the day, Majhi addressed a national seminar on ‘Good Governance and Viksit Odisha @2036 and Viksit Bharat @2047’ at Lok Seva Bhawan which was attended by NITI Aayog members Rajib Guba and Vinod Paul, member, PM’s Economic Advisory Committee Shamika Ravi, NASSCOM president Rajesh Nambiar and former chief secretary Jugal Kishore Mohapatra.