Odisha CMO warns officials against neglecting public complaints

Bhubaneswar, Feb 6: Concerned about delays in addressing public grievances, the Odisha Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has directed senior officials to prioritize and expedite the resolution of complaints to reinforce public trust in government systems.

Emphasizing the importance of swift action, the CMO highlighted in a letter to senior officials that the state's public hearing programme is a key initiative, providing citizens with a platform to submit their grievances anytime and from anywhere. However, a review of complaint statuses revealed prolonged delays due to slow processing at various levels.

The letter noted that as a result of these delays, many complainants have been repeatedly approaching the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell with the same concerns. Addressed to top officials, including Additional Chief Secretaries, the Director General of Police (DGP), Superintendents of Police (SPs), and district collectors, the letter urged immediate corrective measures.

To enhance efficiency, the CMO has instructed officials to accelerate the grievance redressal process and warned of disciplinary action against those deliberately neglecting complaints. Such actions will be taken under the Orissa Civil Services (Classification, Control, and Appeal) Rules, 1962, to ensure accountability and prompt resolution of public concerns.