Bhubaneswar: Head of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Naveen Patnaik said that the property details of all party functionaries, including himself, would soon be uploaded on internet platforms so as to make them available before the people of the State for scrutiny.
“Right from Sarpanchs to Chairmen at Block levels, Zilla Parishad Presidents, MLAs, Ministers including the Chief Minister, everyone’s property statement will be uploaded and available in the public domain,” said Patnaik who is also the Chief Minister of Odisha.
“Party MPs will make the declaration voluntarily so as to set an example in the country,” added the BJD supremo while addressing party workers and office bearers during the party’s State Council Meeting over video-conferencing, on Monday.
The same goes for all the government officers- from entry level to the State Chief Secretary-- who will have to submit their property statement every year, Patnaik added.
Patnaik’s announcement came in the context of his speech which primarily revolved around his government’s resolve to fight corruption and bring about transparency in governance.
“Corruption is the biggest enemy of development and the Odisha government is giving adequate focus on transparency. The State has already launched a fight against poverty, diseases, regional disparity, inequality and natural disasters.
All such efforts will go in vain if we do not give emphasis on transparency and eliminate corruption,” he said while maintaining that the fight against corruption would help fight the malaise the society is facing at present. “May it be poverty, injustice.. in fact all maladies,” said Patnaik.
Patnaik took the occasion to showcase the concerted crackdown which the government has initiated against corruption and the officials indulging in it.
“In the past one year, action has been taken against 91 corrupt officials in the State,” Patnaik said.
He said Odisha’s on-going fight against corruption has brought laurels for the State across the country. “Odisha is one of the few States which has done a remarkable job by setting up special courts for the trial of corruption cases or confiscation of property belonging to corrupt persons/ officials,” he said.
He said the State has a ‘powerful’ Lokayukta and the government has been taking strong and exemplary action against the corrupt officials irrespective of their influence or position.