Odisha Govt Chooses Saffron-like Hue for State Buildings

Rapid Summary

• Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi’s government announced a new uniform color code for all state government buildings, deciding on an exterior shade resembling saffron.
• The Works Department detailed the prescribed colour as RGB mix (254, 190, and 152).
• This decision sparked controversy,with the Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) criticizing the move.
• BJD spokesperson Lenin Mohanty accused the government of prioritizing cosmetic changes over addressing governance failures like rising crimes against women and deteriorating law and order.
• The BJD further alleged that significant treasury funds were being misallocated for this initiative amidst systemic challenges.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The decision to implement a uniform saffron-like colour scheme for Odisha’s government buildings reflects a focus on symbolism in administrative policies. While such measures aim to create visual consistency across public infrastructure, they have drawn criticism for potential political undertones given saffron’s association with BJP ideologies. Opposition parties view this as a diversion from pressing governance issues like public safety concerns and resource allocation priorities.

This controversy highlights an ongoing debate about the alignment between governance aesthetics versus functional impact in policymaking. For citizens of Odisha, questions around transparency in expenditure allocation could foster broader scrutiny over similar symbolic initiatives by governments at both state and national levels.

Read more: The Hindu