From Complaints To Solutions: CM Mohan Majhi’s Direct Citizen Connect Sets New Governance Benchmark

Odisha's 2024 political shift was more than a change in power; it was a moment of tribal assertion. With the fall of the Biju Janta Dal's long reign, Mohan Charan Majhi became the first tribal Chief Minister, marking a historic milestone in a state that houses significant tribal population.

As Majhi completes nearly a year in office, his leadership is under close watch. The BJP lauds his government's achievements, while the opposition points to gaps and shortcomings. Cutting across political lines, one thing is evident: Majhi's popularity is on the rise. Hailed as the People's CM, Mohan Majhi has brought grounded leadership to the forefront of governance. While a year is not enough to achieve everything, his government has launched and implemented several schemes aimed at uplifting the lives of the people of Odisha.

One standout feature of his tenure, as this article highlights, is his direct connect with citizens. Soon after taking office, Majhi restarted public grievance hearings on July 1, 2024, holding sessions every Monday from 11 AM to 1:30 PM at the CM's Grievance Cell in Bhubaneswar. His personal involvement, alongside ministers and senior officials, has bestowed credibility to the process. The Chief Minister listens attentively and often provides on-the-spot solutions, setting a new benchmark in responsive governance.

According to reports, a couple from Boudh district approached the CM's grievance cell for their six-year-old daughter, Pratyusha Giri, who developed multiple wounds on her body shortly after birth. The family could not afford her treatment. During a public grievance hearing on August 5, 2024, CM Majhi personally listened to their plea and sanctioned financial aid from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) to cover the child's medical expenses, providing immediate relief to the family. This case was part of a larger initiative where ₹30.5 lakh was disbursed to 24 individuals with serious health conditions during recent hearings. A direct intervention of the CM ensured that a financially weak family received timely support, a testament to Majhi's commitment to addressing urgent medical needs.

Another notable incident involves the transfer of a lady doctor. P.K. Acharya from Bhubaneswar sought the CM's intervention to facilitate the transfer of his daughter-in-law, a doctor working in Keonjhar, to Puri, where her husband was posted, as the couple had been living separately for years. On July 1, 2024, during the first grievance hearing after the cell's revival, Majhi personally reviewed Acharya's petition and issued instructions to officials to address the transfer request. This was one of 1,540 grievances registered that day, with most related to job regularization, health, and employee transfers. The CM made a swift decision to reunite the family and directed the respective department to take necessary action.

Numerous other grievances related to land and property disputes were brought to the CM's grievance cell, particularly during weekly Monday hearings in Bhubaneswar. According to state government data, by May 2025, 68,756 out of 85,650 grievances (80%) submitted across platforms since June 2024 had been resolved. Majhi's hands-on approach, supported by key ministers and secretaries, ensured that disputes were either resolved on the spot or referred to relevant departments with clear instructions for swift action.

The high resolution rate has restored public trust in the grievance redressal process, offering closure to long-standing disputes that had previously been ignored. The grievance cell saw significant participation from marginalized groups, including differently-abled individuals and senior citizens, seeking aid for issues such as pension delays and financial support.

Majhi introduced a single-window system under the CMRF for on-the-spot financial approvals. For instance, in Sambalpur and other regional hearings, he ensured that urgent cases received immediate funding, with officials directed to resolve issues within seven days. This streamlined approach provided quick relief to vulnerable populations, enhancing accessibility to government support.

To reduce the burden on Bhubaneswar, Majhi encouraged district-level grievance redressal and expanded hearings to regions like Sambalpur and Berhampur, making the process accessible to more people, especially those from marginalized communities. The introduction of the Jana Sunani portal and e-Abhijoga online grievance system allowed citizens to track complaints, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Citizens across the state have expressed appreciation for Majhi's accessibility, contrasting it with the previous administration's inaccessibility. This sentiment has been echoed vociferously on social media posts as well.