Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday described government service as more than just a livelihood, calling it a unique opportunity to serve the people of Odisha. He was addressing newly appointed candidates after distributing appointment letters to 4,623 recruits at the 15th Recruitment Fair (Nijukti Mela) held at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
The appointments were made across seven departments:
- School and Mass Education: 4,113
- Forest, Environment and Climate Change: 154
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME): 143
- Steel and Mines: 77
- Fisheries and Animal Resources Development: 70
- Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water: 52
- Skill Development and Technical Education: 14
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Majhi emphasised that government officials and employees represent the true face of the administration. “Our goal is to ensure that government facilities reach the last person in society,” he said, adding that people are now feeling that this is genuinely a “government of the people.”
Highlighting the government’s employment record, Majhi noted that since June 2024, the state has provided 44,082 government jobs and 92,000 jobs in the private sector.He urged the new appointees to uphold integrity and dedication, offering them five key pieces of advice:
- Stay away from corruption at all times — the government has zero tolerance for it.
- In a democracy, the people are supreme; listen to their voices with empathy and try to resolve their issues.
- Do not let personal ideological views become obstacles in performing duties; work according to the government’s policy direction.
- Maintain punctuality and complete tasks within the stipulated time.
- Behave with courtesy and decency in the workplace, as misconduct can tarnish both personal and governmental reputation.
Majhi also stressed zero tolerance for corruption and respectful behaviour towards women as essential parts of their work culture. He wished the new recruits a bright future.
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, who attended as a guest of honour, congratulated the appointees and praised Chief Minister Majhi’s leadership for creating widespread employment opportunities for the youth. He advised them to treat public service as the highest vocation.
Other ministers present included Fisheries and Animal Resources Development & MSME Minister Gokulananda Mallik, Forest Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia, School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, Panchayati Raj Minister Ravi Narayan Naik, and Industries & Skill Development Minister Sampad Chandra Swain.
Newly appointed officials, including visually impaired Assistant Industry Officer Bikas Ranjan Padhi (MSME), Assistant Conservator of Forests Abhishek Pradhan, Trained Graduate Teacher Anjali Munda (School Education), and Mining Officer Tapaswini Priyadarshini (Steel & Mines), expressed gratitude for the transparent recruitment process.
School and Mass Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr. N. Tirumala Naik delivered the welcome address, while MSME Commissioner-cum-Secretary Rashmita Panda proposed the vote of thanks.
