Bhubaneswar, Oct 30: In a bid to tackle the acute shortage of warders across jails in Odisha, the Jail Department has announced a temporary measure to appoint Home Guards to fill the vacant positions.

This move comes as part of an urgent effort to fill 600 vacant warder posts across various jails in the state.

In a recent directive, the Jail Department has written to all district Superintendents of Police (SPs), requesting the deployment of Home Guards to manage jail duties. The appointments are intended to be temporary, aimed at addressing the immediate manpower shortage in correctional facilities.

Odisha currently operates 87 jails with a total inmate capacity of 24,196.

As of now, approximately 17,300 prisoners are housed across these facilities. Warders, who are responsible for maintaining order and ensuring the safety of inmates and staff, make up nearly 57% of the total sanctioned jail workforce.

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However, with 600 out of 1,856 sanctioned warder posts lying vacant, the department has opted for an interim solution by deploying Home Guards to fill the gap. The move is aimed at sustaining jail operations and preventing disruptions in security until permanent appointments are made.

Further clarity on training protocols and operational guidelines for the appointed Home Guards is awaited.