ASO jobs were sold for Rs30 lakh in BJD Govt: Chief Minister

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Mohan Majhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the previous BJD government while presenting the Odisha Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill 2024 in the Odisha Assembly.

In his speech, the Chief Minister took a swipe at the earlier government, accusing it of misleading the future (students) of Odisha. The previous government continuously debased democracy, the consequences of which were suffered by it in the 2024 general elections, he said.

“There was no transparency in recruitment during the previous government. There was corruption everywhere. The government was taking recruitment very lightly. The officers in charge of conducting examinations would be a part of the racket involved in leaking question papers. The best example is the junior engineer examinations held in 2023,” he said.

Irregularities in recruitment practices extended into the state’s secretariat as well. Assistant Section Officer (ASO) jobs were sold at Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh each, he further said.

When the irregularities were going on under the very nose of the previous government, why it remained to be mute spectator? Bearing up with all the hardships, the families were selling their landed property to fund their children’s coaching expenses, hoping for a bright future for them. But when it would come to appointment, their dreams would dash into the ground, said Majhi adding the previous government would make the ineligible eligible, throwing the eligible one’s future into darkness.

Because of this, many committed suicide. But such things won’t occur in the coming days. For this, the Bill is required. Under Section 12 (1), they will face imprisonment along with a fine and under Section 12 (2), the registration of their institutions will be cancelled and seized, he said.

Issuing a stern warning, Chief Minister Majhi said the corruption that occurred during the previous government has come to an end. Now, get reformed or face consequences. Our responsibility is transparency and honesty. We will deliver what we promised. The former government was limited only to outsourcing, plunging the future of our children into uncertainty, he added.

In the coming days, 1.5 lakh appointments will be made and all the vacant posts will be filled. There will be transparency and impartiality. The new law will ensure a fair and unbiased recruitment process, he further stated.