Diwali Bonanza by Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik: Contractual recruitment declared abolished

57k employees will be regularized, State exchequer to bear an annual burden of Rs 1,300 crore

By Nalini Sahu

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 15: The Odisha government on Saturday announced abolition of contractual recruitment system in the state with immediate effect. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in the evening.

“All contractual employees will be regularized and a notification to this effect will be brought out Sunday,” the CM said.

“Today, I am delighted to announce that the State Cabinet has decided to abolish the contractual system of recruitment permanently. Even today, there are no regular recruitments in many states and they are still continuing with the contractual recruitment. But in Odisha, the era of contractual recruitment has come to an end,” Mr Patnaik said.

More than 57,000 employees will be benefited by the CM’s announcement. The government will spend approximately Rs1300 crore more per annum.  The decision has brought in early Diwali for thefamily members of the contractual workers.

Soon after the announcement, celebrations erupted among the members of Odisha contractual employees association who welcomed the decision the state government. Hundreds of contractual employees celebrated the decision by bursting crackers in front of the association office in Bhubaneswar.

The association members described their protest a success and said despite delay the government fulfilled their demands.

“We are extremely happy. Today is a big day for us,” said Bijaya Kumar Malla, president of the  contractual workers association.