Odisha CM Warns Officers to Shed Old Habits and Loyalties

Bhubaneswar: In a bold and uncompromising message, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday urged the state’s development officers to abandon outdated political loyalties and adopt a fresh, disciplined work culture focused on people-centric governance. Addressing a two-day conference of Chief Development Officers (CDOs) and Block Development Officers (BDOs) in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister made it clear that inefficiency, corruption, and bias will no longer be tolerated.

Calling for a major shift in administrative mindset, Majhi cautioned officers who continue to function under the influence of past political regimes. “Old habits must go. Those who fail to shed their past affiliations and loyalties will not be forgiven,” he said, in a pointed reference to the work culture allegedly fostered under the previous BJD government.

The Chief Minister stressed that development officers have been entrusted with significant power and autonomy, which must be used to serve the people—not to operate under external pressure or partisan influence. “I have risen from the grassroots, and I understand how governance should work. Do not mistake my simplicity for weakness,” Majhi said, sending a clear signal of zero tolerance for administrative complacency.

In a move to enhance accountability, the Chief Minister announced that BDOs’ performance will now be monitored through the respective District Collectors. Officers with poor performance records, he said, will face serious consequences, including removal from their posts.

He also underscored the importance of maintaining mutual respect between government officers and elected representatives. “Governance must be based on coordination and respect. Officers must treat public representatives with due honour,” he said.

Reinforcing the role of development officers as frontline agents of public service, Majhi asked them to act with empathy and actively respond to citizens’ grievances. He emphasized that the government’s goal is not merely infrastructure, but also dignity, inclusion, and effective service delivery.

Turning to rural employment schemes, the Chief Minister urged officers to reorient the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) by limiting the use of machines and prioritizing manual labor. This, he said, would help generate more rural employment and strengthen village economies.