Vacancies mar development in Koraput

KORAPUT: Vacancies in key government posts were affecting development work in the district. The posts of sub-collector (Jeypore), revenue officer, project director of Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihood Programme, project director of District Rural Development Agency, district cultural officer, district tourist officer and superintendent of excise are vacant since long.Recently, the CDMO and sub-collector (Koraput) joined duty after the posts remained vacant for a long period.
"It's a matter of concern that in a tribal-dominated district like Koraput such a large number of government officers' posts are vacant and the state government is doing nothing about it. Government speaks a lot about tribal development but the ground reality is very different," CPI's Koraput district unit secretary Judishtar Raul said. "If the government does not take immediate steps to fill up the vacant posts then we will launch an agitation in front of the collectorate," he threatened.
Social activists said vacancies at the top-level has added to the woes of the district that is already crippled by Maoist menace, tribal land issue, migration of labourers and improper implementation of centre sponsored Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), among others. At present, the CBI is probing irregularities under MGNREGA in the district.
"Koraput is a Maoist-hit district. If the government wants to counter the spread of extremism, development work has to be sped up. Development is not possible in the absence of executing and supervising authorities," Debasish Patnaik, an activist said.
Though, officials admitted that the district administration is facing problem due to acute shortage of officials, it refuses to accept that development works have been hit."There is shortage of officials but steps are being taken with the available manpower to ensure that development works are not affected. The state government has been apprised of the vacancies and we are hopeful the posts are filled at the earliest," said a top official of the Koraput district administration.