Odisha goes for zero tolerance drive against corruption and inefficiency

Odisha has adopted a policy of zero tolerance against corruption and inefficiency in the functioning of the government. The state government has sent six officers on compulsory retirement on charges of corruption. The officers include three executive engineers, a police inspector, a former development authority officer and an additional supply inspector.

The officers have been identified as Executive Engineers Saroj Kumar Das, Dayanidhi Samal and Karunakar Ghadei, Rantakar Mallick (IIC, Angul), Ratnakar Sethi (Additional Supply Inspector, Nuapada) and Charulata Mallick (from erstwhile Development Authority, Angul). According to reports. Das, Samal and Ghadei were found to be incompetent and were also involved in several corruption cases.

Similarly, Angul IIC Malik has also been given compulsory retirement on the ground of disability. Sethi was recently arrested by Odisha Vigilance officials for accumulating assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. Mallick was recently suspended from service for his corrupt practices.

Senior journalist Sheetal Tarang Beuria said, “The state government is taking strict action against corruption. This is a very good step to curb corruption. It will have a good impact on the society. Corrupt officials should be punished severely. Now no public servant will dare to be corrupt.”