Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday warned corrupt government officials and employees that his government would continue to take strict action against corruption.
He highlighted a rise in the state Vigilance Department’s conviction rate to 65% this year up to September.
Addressing the state-level Anti-Corruption Awareness Week 2026 programme at the Lok Seva Bhavan Convention Centre, Majhi said governance was moving beyond government offices to reach people directly and address their grievances.
He described the Jana Sunani public grievance hearing programme as an important measure to tackle corruption at the grassroots, enabling people to bring instances of corruption to the attention of ministers and the Chief Minister, with action taken on the complaints.
The Chief Minister administered an integrity pledge to officials and guests present at the programme. He said the Vigilance department served as the eyes and ears of good governance, adding that governance was not limited to framing policies and schemes but also required preventing corruption and ensuring that public funds reached their intended beneficiaries.
He said the state government had taken extensive steps to strengthen Odisha Vigilance and improve its efficiency in line with the state’s development.
Majhi also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing the JAM system, saying technology had helped eliminate corruption at the grassroots and stop cuts taken by middlemen. He described the system as a major benefit for the poor.
Outlining the state government’s anti-corruption approach, Majhi said it rested on three principles: zero tolerance for corruption, intelligence-based legal action regardless of an official’s rank or tenure, and punishment for officers arrested in corruption cases. He said Odisha Vigilance was implementing these measures professionally and without fear.
Citing the department’s record over the past two and a half years, the Chief Minister said action had been taken against one IAS officer, eight Chief Engineer-rank officers, two Divisional Forest Officers, a Joint Commissioner of Excise and STA, three Mining Deputy Directors, five Tahasildars, four Block Development Officers and several other government officials.
He further said 41 government employees had been dismissed from service following convictions in corruption cases, while the pensions of 91 retired government employees had been stopped.
The conviction rate of Odisha Vigilance, which stood at 50% in 2025, rose to 65% in 2026 up to September, according to the Chief Minister. He expressed satisfaction that the department’s performance was receiving recognition both within and outside the state.
Emphasising the role of technology in preventing corruption, Majhi said the state government had approved the Odisha IT Policy to support the use of modern technology in this area.
A Preventive Vigilance Research Wing is also being established within Odisha Vigilance to identify areas where corruption occurs and those involved, to make governance more transparent and efficient.
Referring to this year’s theme, “From Integrity to Prosperity”, the Chief Minister said strong ethics, transparency and integrity were essential to tackling corruption. He urged government employees to demonstrate integrity and dedication in their work and called on people to make integrity a guiding principle of their lives.
During the programme, Majhi presented awards for 2025 in recognition of outstanding work in vigilance and anti-corruption efforts. Koraput Division was named Best Vigilance Division, while the Angul Unit received the Best Unit award.
