Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 29: To strengthen and meet the shortage of employees in civic bodies, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Monday unveiled a new municipal cadre here.
The cadre, which will have 3,213 posts, will work exclusively in urban local bodies (ULBs). All the posts will be filled up through Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) or Orissa Staff Selection Commission.
It has been divided into eight categories – Orissa municipal administration service, Orissa municipal engineering service, Orissa municipal planning service, Orissa municipal finance service, Orissa municipal public health service, Orissa municipal community development service, Orissa municipal ministerial service and Orissa municipal e-governance service.
“The state government has taken a number of initiatives to revamp and reform governance. Creation of dedicated municipal cadre is a major milestone in this regard. The department should ensure that the positions are filled up expeditiously,” said the CM at the function organised by housing and urban development department.
The state government has set certain priorities and directed the ULBs to achieve those by 2018-19. These including converting all roads to cement concrete ones with covered drains, complete street lighting, creating and maintaining parks, playgrounds and kalyan mandaps, he said.
The financial grant to the ULBs has been substantially increased to ensure better public services by the authorities, he said. “I hope all the ULBs will spend the fund to achieve self reliance,” he added.
The chief minister also launched the ‘Plan Plus’ and ‘Actionsoft’ for preparation of schemes for infrastructure development in the civic bodies and proper management of funds.
“The infrastructure of the ULBs will be examined through the Plan Plus software and plans can be prepared accordingly. Similarly, the action plus software will help examine the funds available under the scheme and execution of plans and the stage they are in. This will help in reviewing the schemes,” said housing and urban development minister Puspendra Singh Deo.
Ahead of the Self-Governance Day, the CM also felicitated 27 civic bodies for their performances during the year 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15.
The top three municipal corporations have been awarded a trophy while the best three municipalities and NACs received a cash prize and trophy.
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) was also awarded for securing top position in the national-level smart city challenge held last year.
The chief minister also inaugurated and laid foundation of some infrastructure projects here.
Finance minister Pradip Kumar Amat, development commissioner R Balakrishnan, departmental secretary G Mathivathanan, mayors, chairpersons and executive officers of all ULBs attended the function.
