Row over Odisha BDO ‘joining birthday celebration during grievance hearing’

A video has surfaced from Badakumari panchayat in Khordha’s Bolagada block showing a local official (Block Development Officer) celebrating his personal driver’s birthday while a public grievance hearing was allegedly underway, sources said on Wednesday.

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The incident reportedly took place on the 5th of this month, when citizens had gathered to present their complaints to the official.

Instead of addressing the public grievances, the BDO is seen cutting a birthday cake and celebrating, leaving many residents frustrated. The video has drawn criticism from people’s representatives. They expressed that neither the block chairperson nor the village sarpanch nor the samiti members are being informed about administrative programmes.

Bolagada block chairperson Hulas Pradhan stated that such behaviour tarnishes the image of elected representatives. In response to queries, the official in the video claimed that the cake cutting occurred much before the grievance hearing formally began and dismissed the controversy as exaggerated.

Nevertheless, local residents continue to voice concerns about officials prioritising personal celebrations over public duties, highlighting the growing expectations for transparency and accountability in local governance.

“Whatever programmes are being held, the BDO is not informing me. Even a programme named ‘Palli Re Prashasana’ was held today in my panchayat, and I was not informed. It is a matter of concern whether needy people’s issues would be addressed or birthday cakes be cut,” the Bolagada block chairperson expressed.

“There is nothing in it. Unnecessarily, an issue is being created. The scheduled programme had not started (by then). None of the staff had arrived. Just a cake was cut as the guy (the driver) had his birthday,” Bolagada BDO, Suman Sudha Kundu, said to OTV when contacted.

Reacting to accusations that she is not informing local representatives about administrative programmes, the BDO stated, “It is not that I am not informing. I have letters with me.”