In a significant welfare measure for the state’s prison administration, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has approved a doubling of the annual uniform (clothing) allowance for jail officers and employees.
The decision, cleared by the Chief Minister’s Office, will directly benefit around 2,500 personnel across the jail organisation. The enhanced allowance will come into effect from the current financial year and is expected to entail an additional annual expenditure of Rs 96.22 lakh for the state government.
Under the revised norms:
- 378 officers, ranging from DIG of Prisons to Assistant Matron, will now receive Rs 6,000 per year instead of the earlier Rs 3,000.
- 2,122 Chief Warders, Warders, and women Warders will see their annual uniform allowance rise from Rs 4,000 to Rs 8,000.
Officials said the hike aims to ease the financial burden on frontline prison staff who are required to maintain prescribed uniforms as part of their duty.
