Bhubaneswar, 4 June (H.S.): Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday emphasized the pivotal role of revenue officials, especially tehsildars, in fostering a transparent and people-centric land administration system in Odisha.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the State-Level Revenue Officers’ Conference and Workshop held at Lok Seva Bhawan, the Chief Minister urged officers to function as “custodians of justice” and not as “agents of fear.”

“The tehsildar’s office should inspire trust, not fear. You are the government’s face at the grassroots—ensure your actions reflect fairness, accountability, and compassion,” he stated. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making Odisha landless-free, declaring that individuals possessing less than four decimals of land would also be considered landless and brought under the ambit of land distribution schemes.

Highlighting the state’s rapid response to Cyclone Dana, Majhi praised the evacuation of over 8.1 lakh people to 6,210 cyclone shelters, crediting effective interdepartmental coordination for the success. “Our Zero Casualty mission is a testament to the state's preparedness and people-first approach,” he remarked.

Underscoring the significance of inclusive governance, the Chief Minister called upon revenue officials to prioritize service delivery to the most vulnerable and marginalized sections. “Be proactive in resolving issues. Ensure that the benefits of governance reach the last mile. The deprived and neglected deserve our utmost attention,” he added.

The conference aimed to enhance administrative efficiency, encourage responsive governance, and reinforce the commitment of field-level officials to the state’s development goals.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda