Out of the total 314 blocks in the State 20 blocks are running sans regular Block Development Officers (BDOs) while 100 blocks are functioning without Additional BDOs.
Panchayati Raj Minister Arun Sahoo on Tuesday informed the Assembly that around 2,890 posts of various categories against the sanctioned strength of 11,493 starting from BDO, ABDO to Peon and Sweeper levels are lying vacant in the State.
The Minister replying to the query of MlA Dilip Ray further informed the House that as many as 146 positions starting from Additional Secretary to Junior Senior Assistant levels are lying vacant at the Panchayati Raj Department against sanctioned 384 posts.
Similarly, the Minister stated that 13 posts at the State Institute of Rural Development and Extension Training Centre, the nodal institute for training, research, evaluation and consultancy in the field of rural development under the aegis of Panchayati Raj Department are lying vacant. The sanctioned strength at the SIRD and ETC is 44.
However, the Minister stated that efforts are being taken to fill up all the vacant posts as per the State Government guidelines.