Odisha Government's Shocking Blunder: Deceased Officer Assigned For PM Modi's Visit | Report

In an embarrassing blunder, the Odisha state government mistakenly appointed a deceased Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer to manage crowds for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit on September 17.

The error sparked criticism on social media, prompting the government to swiftly correct its mistake the following day, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Photo Credit: PTI

Odisha Government's Shocking Blunder

The incident occurred when the general administration and public grievance department issued an order on Friday, September 13, detailing the assignment of 50 senior OAS officers to crowd management during PM Modi's visit to Janata Maidan. The Prime Minister is scheduled to launch the 'Subhadra Yojana,' a new cash incentive scheme for women.

Among the officers listed for crowd control duties was Prabodha Kumar Rout, an officer who had passed away in July of the previous year. At the time of his death, Rout's last posting had been with the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).

Social media backlash quickly followed the revelation of the error, with many questioning how the oversight occurred. Swayam Prakash Mohapatra, head of the Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) social media cell, sarcastically commented on the situation, stating, "A very strange regime is going on. An officer who has been dead for a year has been assigned to crowd control during the Prime Minister's visit."

After the public outcry, the Odisha government issued a corrigendum, replacing Rout's name with Subrat Kumar Jena, a land officer at the Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO). Odisha's Chief Secretary, Manoj Ahuja, confirmed the correction, saying, "It has been changed."

Despite the controversy, preparations continue for PM Modi's visit, where he will inaugurate the 'Subhadra Yojana' and oversee the launch of several key railway projects valued at ₹2,800 crore. The Subhadra Yojana aims to benefit over one crore of women in Odisha, providing eligible women aged 21 to 60 with ₹50,000 over five years, distributed in two annual instalments of ₹10,000, as per media reports.

Funds from the scheme will be directly transferred to recipients' Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. To mark the scheme's initiation, PM Modi will oversee the first fund transfers to more than 10 lakh women, with subsequent payments aligned with Rakhi Purnima and International Women's Day celebrations over the next five years.