Manoj Mishra, Ex Principal Secretary (E&IT): The Chameleons and Other of Odisha Bureaucrats.

One of the most surprising decisions that caught observers’ attention is the resignation of Mr. Manoj Mishra, who was on a contractual appointment as Principal Secretary to the Electronics and Information Technology Department.

After the change of Government in Odisha, there was a spate of resignations of many top bureaucrats, who were posted in the CMO office after their retirement to perpetuate the dirty work of the previous Government. Their role was mostly on managing the alignment of Govt Departments to bring funds for the political campaigns for BJD.

There was a spate of resignations of many top bureaucrats, who were posted in the CMO office after their retirement to perpetuate the dirty work of the previous Government.

However one of the most surprising decision that caught the eye of observers was the resignation of Mr. Manoj Mishra , who was on contractual appointment as Principal Secretary to Electronics and Information Technology Department . He also headed the OCAC as CMD and ensured the implementation of all the information and technology initiatives in the State as part of the infamous 5T.

Why Manoj Mishra Resigned Abruptly ?

 

Observers are curious to know the reasons that propelled Manoj Mishra to resign abruptly from the IRTS service and to join as Principal Secretary to E&IT Department on contractual basis.  It is well known that he was close to Mr V.K Pandian also was close to Ex CM Nabin Patnaik. He handled Social Media in the CMO office and was Special Secretary to Transport department before joining in E&IT Department.

Manoj Mishra was close to Mr V.K Pandian and Ex CM Nabin Patnaik. He was handling Social Media in the CMO office. He was the Special Secretary to Transport department before joining in E&IT Department.

E&IT department is very crucial for the development of any State because it provides real information/data to Government to make the scheme to reach out to the people who deserve the benefits and this is managed with digital intervention by integrating all the departments’ information.

Under his leadership during his tenure, he was only preparing database in alignment with political agenda and many stake holders were unethically financially benefitted. This has been seen have noticed in many important events like Biswa Odisha Shamilani, Jagannath Parikarma inauguration, Dakota launching , World cup hocky, etc  .

 

He was one of the key member of the cautery with a political mandate, joined in E&IT department in the end of 2019 with the Panchayat Election in the State in view. He was instrumental in initiating Biju Swastha Kalyan Yojna (BSKY) card which was a hidden agenda of the Government to win  the Panchayat election. Preparing Centralized database , cards and technical parts for its operation and distribution of the card was managed under his supervision.

 

OCAC Building changed to green !

Even he changed the color of the OCAC building to Green, the color of BJD to show his political alignment and aligned the mind of all the staff of OCAC and E&IT department to follow and work for BJD to ensure win of the BJD in the election.  How a bureaucrat on deputation from Indian Railway without any relevant experience in the Information technology is a question that is active in the mind of 4.5 crores Odias?

It is widely believed that inspite of lack of expertise he was managing the department because of his closeness with V. K Pandian and powerful link with CMO office. A poor minister in place who did not have any voice also helped the matter. All departments accepted this with fear because it was expected from them that they would generate the fund for political purpose through the investment in information and communication technology.

 

So it is expected that  the new Government will post  a new principal secretary, E&IT Department, Govt of Odisha who has the prior experience of managing OCAC to ensure that all data remain   intact and no data storage be damaged or displaced. 

 

The initiatives taken by the department and OCAC for  the period of 2020 to 2024, which covered the period of the Corona Pandemic, under his leadership. During the period many projects were awarded on nomination basis or awarded without following transparent bid process of evaluation and selection. It includes:

 

• Smart School – 3000 +
• Sustainable Development Goal
• i4MS/i3MS, Fishery, Scholarship, SAMs , E-Despatch, CSC,SWAN,NOC, SDC,SOC,  Kalia and other projects
• Semiconductor and ESDM Park, its integrity to select the agency with eligibility to find the solution integrator to establish the Park.
• BSKY, Odishaone, State and District portals.

 

Performance and benefits need to be assessed

 

All the above projects are alleged to have failed the test of integrity, objectivity and post deployment impacts. Their performance and benefits need to be assessed.

1. Escalated project value with special approval from CMO. Every Detailed project report need to be assessed and bid process evaluation need to be re-evaluated.
2. Reason of getting extension of Mr. Manoj Patnaik , CEO and Additional Secretary for 6 months who is alleged to have  network with few companies and clearly promoted them in spite of  conflict interest.
3. Extension of consultants and rehabilitation of the OCAC staffs after retirement to support all corruption and manipulated practices to favor the companies on the instruction of Principal Secretary and E&IT.  List of all such resources who are continuing with the same positions after retirement, consultants and on deputation for long time need to be published.
4. Continuance of the few positions for long duration need to be evaluated , particularly  in Finance and Admin position with joint responsibility of OCAC and E&IT Department.
5. The details of visit to foreign countries by Manoj Mishra , Principal Secretary to E&IT Department ( USA Silicon Valley  , South Emirates and others ) during his tenure with the promotion team of the state  and what is the outcome of that visit need to be reviewed. How many companies committed, how many on-boarded and how many of them are operational with the number of resources should be published and the expenditure should also be published.
6. How promotion team was effective for promotion of ESDM (Electronics System Design Manufacturing) sector and what is the plan behind the Semiconductor and ESDM Park with business justification need to be published for the knowledge of people of Odisha that will create lots of employment opportunity.
7. Mr. Mishra was working for few companies as their business development manager and the list of such companies need to be made public.
8. Mr Mishra was in the charge of Social Media promotion for the Government departments and awarded 70 + such accounts of various departments after the change of Government all such accounts is in defunct conditions and 100+resources career is in Stake.
9. For promotion of Startup companies in Odisha, Govt had taken some initiatives to provide subsidized incubation space in the IT Towers, where he has ensured allocation to many companies who are reportedly  not eligible but were still favored  because of his vested interest.