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In a significant administrative blunder, the Odisha state government mistakenly assigned a deceased officer to manage crowd control for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit on September 17th. The incident highlights a concerning lack of attention to detail within government processes, particularly during a high-profile event. The government initially issued an order on September 13th, deploying 50 senior OAS officers to manage crowds during PM Modi's visit to launch the Subhadra Yojana, a cash incentive scheme for women. This order included Prabodha Kumar Rout, an officer who passed away in July of the previous year, despite his last posting being at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC).
The oversight was quickly brought to light through social media scrutiny, prompting the government to issue a corrigendum the following day. The name of the deceased officer was replaced with Subrat Kumar Jena, a land officer at the industrial infrastructure development corporation (IDCO). While the government acknowledged the error and rectified it swiftly, the initial mistake raises concerns about the thoroughness of administrative processes. The incident sparked criticism from opposition parties, with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) social media cell head, Swayam Prakash Mohapatra, highlighting the absurdity of the situation. The error underscores the need for greater vigilance in the administrative processes of government departments, particularly when handling high-profile events and sensitive information.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of overlooking details and neglecting basic verification procedures. The Odisha government, despite its prompt response to the criticism, must take this incident seriously as an opportunity to improve administrative practices and ensure accountability. While the assignment of a deceased officer for crowd management may seem like a minor error, it exposes a more significant issue within the system, highlighting the potential for similar lapses in other areas. The incident also underscores the growing role of social media in holding governments accountable, demonstrating its power to quickly uncover and expose errors in government operations.
Source: Odisha officer who died in 2023 deployed for PM Narendra Modi's visit: Report