Argus News - CM Majhi Vows 65,000 Government Jobs in Two Years

Bhubaneswar, Dec. 11: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to large-scale recruitment, announcing that 37,916 appointments have been made in the past 18 months. He reiterated the promise of filling 65,000 government posts within the first two years of his tenure.

Recruitment Drive

At a ceremony in Bhubaneswar, the Chief Minister handed over appointment letters to 591 newly recruited officers and employees across three departments — Water Resources (252), Housing and Urban Development (142), and Works (197). He emphasised that recruitment was central to strengthening governance and ensuring effective implementation of welfare schemes.

CM Majhi noted that appointments had been carried out in 13 phases so far, and another 30,000 posts would be filled within the next six months. An additional 15,000 vacancies, he said, would be addressed “very soon.” Advising the new recruits, he urged them to remain free of corruption and to work with dedication for the development of society and the state.

Criticism of Previous Government

The Chief Minister criticised the previous BJD government, alleging that regular recruitment had stalled during its tenure. Vacancies created by retirements, he said, were left unfilled, forcing departments to depend on outsourced and contractual workers. “If we do not appoint regular employees, how will such a huge budget be utilised? Important government data may also be compromised,” Majhi remarked.

Also Read: Odisha MLAs’ Salaries, Pensions Hiked

Infrastructure Push

Majhi also inaugurated and laid foundation stones for several irrigation-related projects. He highlighted the government’s increased capital expenditure, with over Rs 65,000 crore earmarked in the current budget, rising to more than Rs 68,000 crore with supplementary provisions. Engineers, he said, would play a crucial role in ensuring effective utilisation of these funds.

Irrigation Scheme

The Chief Minister dedicated the Mukhyamantri Adibandh Yojana 3.0 to the people of Odisha. Under the scheme, Rs2,738 crore has been allocated for the construction of 3,000 new check dams and renovation of 2,000 existing ones over the next five years. The initiative is expected to provide irrigation to about 48,000 hectares, boosting agricultural productivity.

Works Minister Prithviraj Harichandan, Housing and Urban Development Minister Krushna Chandra Mahapatra, and Development Commissioner Anu Garg also addressed the gathering.