BJP & Cong fire salvo at BJD over grievance hearings by 5T secretary

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Thursday stepped up their attacks on the ruling BJD dispensation over the 5T Secretary attending public grievance meetings across the state. 

While the saffron party alleged why a single officer has been given so much importance, the grand old party wished to know the job of district collectors at a time when the 5T secretary is intruding into their scope of work. 

“In my political career, I have never heard of the Chief Minister's secretary holding any grievance meeting. They are only making a farce in the name of grievance hearings. The CM has not heard the grievances of his ministers, let alone hearing the ones of common people,” said state BJP president, Manmohan Samal. 

Echoing the same, BJP MP Pratap Sarangi termed the 5T secretary’s grievance meetings as anti-democracy. 

“To collect grievances is a simple job. He (the CM) can engage his officers to collect grievances. Instead of that, someone (5T secretary) going from here in a chopper is not good. It is anti-democracy,” said Sarangi. 

Lashing out at the CM, Senior Congress leader Bijay Patnaik said, “The CM is saying that the 5T secretary is there to hear the grievances. What are Collectors for? What are BDOs for? What are Tehsildars for? Let all the grievance meetings be done through virtual mode. The present system of grievance hearing is not good for the people.”

Taking the side of his party, senior BJD leader Rabindra Jena said, “The present system of grievance hearing is very effective. The 5T secretary is addressing the issues on the spot. Other states are going to replicate the system.”

On the other hand, thousands of grievances on the government’s grievance hearing portal are piling up and waiting to be heard. 

From the letter of the Chief Secretary, it emerges that around 25,000 grievances have been received by March 25, 2023. On the other hand, the CM’s review stated that 18,000 grievances have arrived from 20 districts. 

Now the question here is when these grievances will be addressed. 

Gopinath Das, a resident of Gorapur village in Kendrapara district said, “Four years have passed since I lodged my grievance at the Collector’s grievance cell. But I am yet to get any result.”

Expressing his concern, Rabindra Mahapatra from Koraput alleged, “In Koraput district, rampant corruption is reported from the 5T department. All works are being carried out without tenders. All the illegal works are taking place in the 5T department.”