The State Government has cautioned the district and block level officers of the Women and Child Development Department that exemplary action will be taken if any of them leave their headquarters without prior permission from the competent authority.
“It is found that many district and block level officers of the department come to the Secretariat with their grievances. No representation of any persons will be entertained unless accompanied by permission letter from competent authority,” said a circular issued by the department’s Secretary Arati Ahuja to the district collectors.
The district social welfare officers (DSWO), assistant district social welfare officers (ADSWO), child development project officer (CDPO), programme officers and supervisors have been instructed not to leave the headquarters without permission of their higher authority. Unless any officer is invited to attend any meeting or official works, visiting Bhubaneswar is strictly prohibited.
Even if any DSWO needs to visit the state capital on personal grounds, prior permission of the concerned district collector is required.
DSWOs visiting the grievance cell are required to carry permission letter from the district collectors, the circular said. Similarly, the ADSWOs, CDPOs, POs and supervisors visiting the grievance cell or on official works to the Department are required to show the permission letter of DSWO.
Since anganwadi workers are frequently coming here on personal and official works without permission, the Department has asked them to take permission of their CDPOs before leaving the anganwadi centre. “No representation in person will be entertained unless accompanied by the permission letter,” the government order said. A large number of anganwadi workers were agitating here demanding better salary and job regularisation during the monsoon session and their absence for a long period seriously affected the works at the anganwadi centres which led he government to act.