BHUBANESWAR: The State Government came in for sharp criticism from the Opposition members in the Assembly on Friday for largescale vacancies in different departments which has affected administration at district and sub-divisional levels even as Finance Minister Pradip Amat maintained that posts were abolished for fiscal discipline.
The issue cropped up during discussion on the admissibility of an adjournment motion notice with the Opposition members alleging that vacancies of important posts, including that in the Agriculture, Health and Education departments, have not been filled up.
Making a statement, the Minister said the State Government had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre in 1999 to slash the number of employees by 10 per cent within four years. Appointment to new posts and filling up of vacancies were banned because of the MoU, he said and added that the step was taken as salary of employees had gone up to 160.57 per cent of the State’s own resources. As per the process, 45,513 vacant posts in different Government offices were abolished between 1999 and 2008, the Minister said and added that a majority of these posts had become unnecessary. The Government has, however, stopped abolition of posts since 2008 and the Finance department has agreed for creation of and filling up of 2.4 lakh posts between April 1, 2004 and May 31, 2014, he said.
However, Amat said vacancies continue to ail several departments because of pending cases in different courts and steps are being taken to fill them up. The Government has decided to fill up 40,000 posts within the next six months. Besides, the retirement age of Government employees has also been increased from 58 to 60 years, he said, adding that during next two years, there will be no vacancies because of retirement.
Criticising the Government, Congress chief whip Taraprasad Bahinipati alleged that posts of teachers, village agricultural workers and many other essential portfolios are remaining vacant because of faulty Government policy.