Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 27: Vacant posts have become a cause of concern for the tourism department, which has written to the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC) asking it to fill eight positions of tourist officers in the state.
“The vacancies are affecting the smooth working of the department,” said tourism department additional secretary MC Patra. “The posts have been vacant for a long time and we have asked OPSC to provide manpower to ensure the smooth functioning of the department,” Patra said.
Four posts of assistant section officer (ASO) and nine clerical posts are being filled.
“The department has written to the home department seeking manpower for ASOs,” said Patra. It has also asked the Orissa Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) to fill the nine vacant posts of clerks across the state, he said.
Both the commission and the department have responded positively and are taking steps to fill the posts, said Patra. However, it may take approximately six months to complete the process.
“At present the work of tourist officers is being done by the assistant tourist officers. In the section office, the subordinates take over the task,” Patra said.
Staffers complain that the vacant posts are leading to extra work for them. “We have to do extra work because of the lack of manpower. This is hampering the functioning of the department,” said an official in the department on condition of anonymity.
“The staff crunch has also affected the overall development of the tourism sector in the state. We are hopeful of a positive change now that the department has written to the OPSC,” the officer said.
