BHUBANESWAR: As the massive wage employment scheme MGNREGS is facing problems due to lack of dedicated staff, the State Government has decided to appoint additional programme officers (APOs) in all the 314 blocks.
The APOs, who will be recruited on contractual basis and paid a consolidated salary of ` 12,500 a month, will assist the BDOs in monitoring the projects taken up under MGNREGS.
As all the poverty alleviation and welfare programmes, implemented by the government, are executed through the BDOs, they are unable to spare quality time to monitor all the programmes. Besides, NREGS is demand driven and the local administration has to provide employment to the registered jobseekers as and when they seek work.
The selection of the APOs will be strictly on merit and the essential qualification is PG in Sociology, Social Work, Mass Communication, MBA in Rural Management or two years of PG diploma in Rural Management from any recognised university or institute. The maximum age limit is 40 years as on January 1, 2011.
Applications can be sent online along with a passportsize photograph on the Panchayati Raj Department website www.orissapanchayat.gov.in. A candidate can apply for more than one block, said sources in the department.
In addition to online application, the candidates are required to submit another application in hard copy to the project director, District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) by registered or speed post. A passportsize photograph and attested copies of relevant certificates and marksheets with due signatures should be attached to the applications.
Any mismatch between the online and the hard copy applications will attract rejection. The list of applications rejected will be hosted on the Net.
The engagement will be for a period of one year initially. However, the services of APOs will be extended as per the requirement and suitability. A blockwise merit list will be prepared. The applications will be vetted by a scrutiny committees headed by district collectors.