The Odisha Finance Department has issued firm guidelines on the appointment of outsourcing (contractual) staff in government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnic/engineering schools.
Reviewing a proposal from the Skill Development and Technical Education Department, the Finance Department has directed that staffing must be proportionate to actual student numbers and that all rules must be followed rigorously.
As per the instructions, each technical institution will first prepare a detailed estimate of the expenditure required for essential outsourcing personnel at the institute level. A committee is to be constituted in accordance with Rule 12 of the Delegation of Financial Powers Rules (DFPR), 1978, and necessary approvals from the competent authority obtained. The proposal will then be submitted to the Finance Department for budget provision and formal concurrence.
For expenditure proposals exceeding ₹5 lakh, recommendations must come through the signed proceedings of a committee formed at the department-head level. The department head retains the authority to take decisions on proposals up to ₹1 crore.
The Finance Department has clearly stated that maintaining an identical number of outsourcing staff across all ITIs and polytechnics is neither logical nor justified. Deployment must be based on the actual strength of students, with due consideration also given to the number of hostels. Emphasis has been placed on vehicle hiring; wherever a government vehicle is available, driver services may be engaged.
To control costs, every institution will retain only one watchman-cum-sweeper. One matron or one hostel superintendent will be permitted. In smaller institutions, either one peon or one workshop attendant may be engaged, while larger institutions may have both.
For the 37 smaller ITIs that have hostels, permission may be granted for one watchman-cum-sweeper, one attendant/peon, one matron/superintendent and one hostel attendant. Institutions without hostels will have even lower staffing ceilings. Ten older polytechnics may be allowed a total of 47 outsourcing staff. Other polytechnics may engage two watchman-cum-sweepers, two attendants/peons, two hostel attendants and two matrons/hostel superintendents.
Under Secretary Bijaya Lakshmi Nayak of the Skill Development and Technical Education Department has communicated these directives to the directorate for necessary action.
The move aims to bring uniformity, transparency and fiscal discipline while ensuring that technical institutions receive the minimum essential support staff required for smooth functioning.
