In an attempt to speed up monitoring of development projects in villages State Government has decided to re-appoint 100 retired BDOs who have not attained 65 years of age and has also initiated process to appoint Block Development Officers through Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission.
“There is a paucity of BDOs at the village level. This is affecting monitoring of development work. To meet the gap process has been initiated to appoint BDOs through Public Service Commission. Till the commission finalises appointments around 100 retired BDOs should be given re-employment,” Chief Secretary Alok Ranjan said in a statement issued here on Wednesday.
He said that only those retired BDOs should be considered for re-appointment who have not attained the age of 65 years. “The Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj should also initiate process to fill the vacancies through departmental promotions,” Ranjan said.
The decision was taken during the review meeting of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj here. The officials told the Chief Secretary that the state was facing an acute shortage of BDOs. This shortage was adversely affecting monitoring of development work, they said.
“The BDOs are very important link in delivery system. They are the person who is in touch with the gram pradhans and knows what exactly ails the particular village. So, it is very important that all the vacant posts of BDOs should be filled at the earliest,” he said.
Ranjan also directed the officials to re-bore 100 hand pumps in each block in this fiscal. The Government has set a target to re-bore 82,200 hand pumps and this should be achieved without any fail.
The meeting which lasted for almost two hours focused on the development of lohia villages. Directives were issued to set up solar lights in all the 85,000 lohia villages by January , 2015.
“Targets have been set up complete lohia Awas Yojana. If the officials fail to meet te target action would be taken against them,” he said.
Under Ram Manohar lohia Integrated Rural Development schemes toilets would be constructed in 2096 villages. This would benefit 2.93 lakh villagers. In the identified villages CC roads would also be constructed. The work should be completed by March , 2015, said Ranjan.