Bhubaneswar, Aug 11: During the 14th public grievance hearing held in Bhubaneswar, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi was visibly emotional and firm in response to a suicide threat made by Jagabandhu Panda, a peon in the Works Department for over 40 years.

Panda, who has been working on a meagre wage without permanent employment, expressed his frustration and threatened to end his life in front of the Chief Minister.

Moved and angered by the statement, CM Majhi responded, “If you take your own life, what am I here for? Don’t ever speak of suicide — it is not a solution.”

He urged Panda and others in similar distress to seek resolution through legal and administrative channels, assuring that the government is committed to finding solutions.

The Chief Minister emphasized that his doors are open to every citizen and that the administration is actively working to address long-pending employment and service regularization issues. He condemned the use of suicide threats as a form of protest, stating that such actions only deepen the tragedy and hinder constructive resolution.

Jagabandhu’s case has drawn attention to the plight of thousands of temporary workers in Odisha who continue to serve without job security. The CM assured that his government will take steps to investigate and resolve such cases with urgency.

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