Odisha CM Hands Over Appointment Letters to 1,294 Recruits, Reaffirms Commitment to 1.5 Lakh Government Jobs

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday handed over appointment letters to 1,294 newly recruited officers and employees from seven major departments of the state government. The ceremonial recruitment event, held at the Bhubaneswar Railway Auditorium, marked another step in the government’s broader push for administrative efficiency and people-centric governance.

Addressing the appointees, the Chief Minister urged them to dedicate themselves to public service with empathy, integrity, and a strong sense of accountability. He offered a personal appeal, asking them to always serve their parents with gratitude and to ensure timely justice for the poor, who often suffer the most under systemic delays and inequality.

The fresh recruits include postgraduate teachers under the School and Mass Education Department, professionals across multiple designations in the Health and Family Welfare Department, officers in the Commerce and Transport Department, as well as faculty for the Skill Development Department. Others appointed include Gram Panchayat Development Officers, Excise Sub-Inspectors, and officers in the Labour Department. Majhi emphasized that each appointment reflects the government’s commitment to both merit and mission.

The Chief Minister reiterated that employment generation is a top priority for his government. He said the administration is working towards filling 1.5 lakh government positions over the next five years, with 65,000 of those targeted within the first two years. Including the latest batch, 27,428 candidates have already been appointed under his leadership. He also highlighted recent legislative measures to ensure transparency in recruitment and noted that the upper age limit for government jobs has been increased to 42 years to widen the pool of eligible candidates.

Majhi credited the Central government for its support, particularly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance. He said the state has facilitated 90,000 job opportunities in the industrial sector over the past four months through the Utkarsh Odisha initiative, which aims to boost both public and private sector employment.

In a gesture blending environmental consciousness with personal values, the Chief Minister urged every newly appointed official to plant a tree in their mother’s name under the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign. He described the act as symbolic of gratitude toward one’s roots and responsibility toward the planet.

Deputy Chief Minister and Agriculture Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo called on the new recruits to serve the people of Odisha with dedication, stating that their efforts would be remembered in building a new Odisha. Deputy Chief Minister and Women and Child Development Minister Pravati Parida reminded the appointees that they are custodians of public funds and must act in service of the people with utmost sincerity.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling described the recruitment drive as a fulfillment of the government’s promise to deliver good governance. School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond emphasized the importance of these appointments in revitalizing the state’s education and administration systems.

As a token of statewide representation, 30 recruits from each of Odisha’s districts were personally handed their appointment letters by the Chief Minister. Among them were Geetanjali Suna from Nabarangpur, appointed as a postgraduate teacher; Dr. Sonali Subhadarshini, appointed as an Assistant Professor in the Health Department; and Brajabandhu Nahak from Keonjhar, appointed as faculty in the Skill Development Department. All expressed deep appreciation for the fair and transparent selection process.