Badasahi: Multiple vacancies have left all developmental activities in a limbo in Badasahi block of Mayurbhanj district and the lack of development has caused discontentment among residents here.
Reports said 21 posts have been lying vacant in the block while an order has been issued to shift the BDO.
In such a situation, implementing the 5-Ts of the state government has come into question when execution of developmental projects has come to a halt.
Badasahi is the largest block in the tribal-dominated district. The block has a population of over 2.5 lakh spread in 30 panchayats. The block spreads from the foothill of Similipal up to the borders of Balasore district.
A huge number of people throng the block office every day for their work, but most of them have to return empty-handed due to absence of officials.
As the vacant posts have not been filled up for a long time, there has been inordinate delay in execution of projects and welfare schemes. Beneficiaries are unable to get immediate benefits of schemes, it was alleged.
The post of ABDO has been lying vacant since 10 years. Moreover, 73 officials are working in the office against the sanctioned posts of 94.
15 major posts including one of a junior engineer, block welfare officer, an SEO and of an IPO are yet to be filled up.
Locals alleged that the government has not yet taken any step to fill them up.
People in various panchayats have been pressuring people’s representatives to carrying forward the developmental activities which has been now in limbo.
Janmejay Singh, former sarpanch of Jadunathpur, said that people living on the foothill of Similipal have to travel 40 km to reach the block office for their work. “People have to run frequently to the block office as there is no staff to deal with their cases,” he added.
Congress leader Prakash Karmohapatra said that just declaring good policies without filling up the vacancies is just cosmetic.
Pratap Chandra Gaya, a resident of Mangalpur, alleged that there is a competition among top leaders to rehabilitate officer of their choice in the block office.
Vacancies have also affected work in hospitals and the tehsil.
With projects in limbo, discontent is brewing among people.
PNN