The Odisha government has found itself embroiled in controversy after it mistakenly assigned a deceased Odisha Administrative Service (OAS) officer, Prabodha Kumar Rout, to manage crowds during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit on September 17th. The error was discovered after the government’s order, issued on September 13th, assigning 50 senior OAS officers to the women and child development department for crowd management, was widely circulated on social media.
Rout, who passed away last July, was listed as an administrative officer at the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). The blunder sparked immediate criticism, with social media users highlighting the government’s oversight.
Following the backlash, the government swiftly issued a corrigendum replacing Rout’s name with Subrat Kumar Jena, a land officer at the industrial infrastructure development corporation (IDCO). Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja confirmed the change, confirming the initial error.
The incident has become a source of embarrassment for the Odisha government. Biju Janata Dal (BJD) social media cell head Swayam Prakash Mohapatra commented on the situation, stating, “A very strange situation, a strange regime is going on. An officer, who has been dead a year ago has been given the charge of crowd control during the Prime Minister’s visit.”
The Prime Minister’s visit to Odisha is significant as he will launch the state’s new ‘Subhadra’ Yojana scheme, providing cash incentives to over one crore women. Additionally, he will initiate railway projects worth ₹2,800 crore.
While the focus should be on the launch of these initiatives, the Odisha government’s blunder has shifted the attention to its administrative lapses. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of meticulous attention to detail, especially in the face of high-profile events.
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