Odisha BDO cleans drain with bare hands, sends strong message to public

In a rare but powerful gesture of leading by example, a female block development officer (BDO) in Odisha’s Nuapada district won public admiration by physically cleaning a garbage-filled drain with her hands, sources said on Tuesday.

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The incident occurred yesterday in the Sinapali panchayat during a public grievance redressal programme attended by senior block-level officials. While the event was underway, a group of villagers approached the dais with a complaint — the open drain near their homes had not been cleaned for weeks.

Responding immediately, Sinapali BDO Karmi Oram left the meeting and visited the location along with other officials. Upon witnessing the unhygienic condition of the drain, she rolled up her sleeves and cleaned the clogged drain herself, despite villagers and her subordinate officials requesting her not to do so.

Oram’s spontaneous action surprised many and sent a clear message: "Citizens too must take responsibility. We cannot leave everything to the administration."

The BDO’s act of humility and leadership is being praised widely on social media and in the local community. It has sparked conversations around community participation and civic responsibility in rural Odisha.

“You would not believe if I will say what the situation was there. The drain was looking like a dustbin. They (cleaning staff) were not thinking that rainwater and sewage water have to pass through this. Garbage packed in polythene bags were thrown into it,” the BDO said.

“Locals should not do that (throw garbage into drain). We have formed enforcement teams, five in the block and three in the NAC, to keep vigil on such activities. The teams are visiting the fields every Saturday. We are also making people aware not to throw garbage into drains,” the BDO stated to OTV when contacted.