Young officers involved in corruption tarnishing their IAS, OAS ranks: Odisha CM

On the occasion of Anti-Corruption Awareness Week, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his deep concern on Tuesday over the involvement of young government officers in corrupt practices.

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Highlighting the irony, the CM said that many officials who once dreamt of serving the public and were praised for their IAS or OAS exam ranks are now making headlines for being caught in bribery and corruption cases.

“These young officers are selling their ideals and principles for a few rupees, and the State’s residents are increasingly concerned about this,” the Chief Minister said. He stressed that such officials should be strictly dealt with, warning that Vigilance will neither pardon nor overlook any corrupt acts.

Recalling past lapses under the previous (BJD-led) government, he noted that earlier corrupt officers were sometimes let off lightly. In contrast, the current BJP administration has fully empowered the Vigilance Department.

In just the last sixteen months, the department has caught seven senior bureaucrats, five tehsildars, four BDOs, ten police officers, and a DFO involved in corruption.

The CM reiterated that the Odisha government is committed to ‘zero tolerance’ on corruption, ensuring accountability and swift action against those misusing their positions.

“We all know that ‘corruption’ has been a hindrance on the path of our development and progress. Hence, the State government – our government and a people’s government – has adopted a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on corruption,” the Chief Minister stated.

“As a result, the assistance money being provided by the State government under different welfare and developmental schemes is now directly reaching the eligible beneficiaries in a proper and transparent manner,” Odisha CM expressed.