Sambalpur: In a significant step towards responsive and accessible governance, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi conducted a public grievance hearing outside the state capital for the first time, with Sambalpur playing host to the initiative on Monday. The session witnessed an overwhelming response, as the CM personally heard grievances from 1,400 citizens, marking the 10th edition of the state’s flagship grievance redressal programme.
Held at the Sambalpur Municipal Corporation office, the outreach programme transformed the premises into a buzzing hub of civic engagement. An additional 1,000 complaints were received online, with concerns ranging from medical emergencies to pension delays and infrastructure gaps.
The single-window grievance system adopted for the session enabled real-time redressal, particularly for those in dire need of medical assistance. Eighteen individuals battling critical or incurable illnesses received a total of Rs 19.5 lakh in aid from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. A dedicated medical team stationed on-site expedited the verification and approval process.
Chief Minister Majhi was accompanied by a high-powered team including 10 cabinet ministers such as Deputy CM K V Singh Deo, Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, and Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling. Senior bureaucrats including Additional Chief Secretaries Satyabrata Sahu, Surendra Kumar, and Deo Ranjan Kumar Singh, along with secretary-level officers, ensured a smooth and responsive process.
Describing the initiative as a “positive message for Odisha and democracy itself,” CM Majhi said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to addressing the day-to-day struggles of ordinary citizens. “While the previous government was indifferent to such concerns, we have resolved to conduct these sessions across the state. Today, it’s Sambalpur—tomorrow, it will be another region,” he declared.
Majhi also revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had lauded the initiative, encouraging the Odisha administration to strengthen its connect with the grassroots. “Inspired by the PM’s guidance, we are forging deeper ties with the people,” he said.
The CM informed that in the previous nine sessions held in Bhubaneswar, 9,377 complaints had been received, with 88% already resolved and the rest actively being addressed. The decentralisation of grievance hearings, he said, would lead to more effective and prompt responses by local authorities.
The initiative, he added, is not just about complaint resolution but about building public trust and administrative accountability.
