Bhubaneswar: Chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday said the conviction rate in Odisha Vigilance cases has climbed to 65% till Sept this year, up from 50% in 2025, underscoring his govt’s commitment to rooting out corruption from public administration.Addressing the Odisha Vigilance awareness week function in Bhubaneswar, Majhi said governance is no longer being run from an “ivory tower as in the past” and said his direct engagement with citizens through public grievance hearings has helped the govt identify irregularities at the grassroots level and take swift action.“Our govt has adopted a three-pronged strategy to combat corruption – zero tolerance, intelligence-based action, and effective prosecution leading to conviction. Odisha Vigilance is implementing these measures fearlessly and professionally, which is reflected in the significant improvement in conviction rates,” Majhi said.Highlighting the govt’s anti-corruption drive, the chief minister said vigilance authorities have taken action against several senior officials, including an IAS officer, over the past two-and-a-half years. He added that 41 govt employees were dismissed from service following convictions in corruption cases, while pensions of 91 retired employees were withheld after they were found guilty.Vigilance director Yeshwant Jethwa said the agency remains focused on impactful investigations and successful prosecution of corruption cases. “In line with the chief minister’s zero-tolerance policy, we are carrying out a sustained crackdown on corruption. With continued support from the govt in terms of manpower, infrastructure and resources, we are constantly strengthening our capabilities,” Jethwa said.He said the state govt has approved the creation of a multidisciplinary Preventive Vigilance Research Wing. Comprising domain experts from various sectors and govt departments, the proposed unit will analyse vigilance data to identify systemic vulnerabilities and recommend preventive measures in coordination with implementing agencies. “The initiative is expected to shift the focus from detection alone to preventing corruption by addressing administrative loopholes and governance gaps,” Jethwa said.
About The Author
