Bhubaneswar, 10 August (H.S.): Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Monday distributed appointment letters to 1,326 selected candidates across nine state government departments at the 16th Nijukti Mela held at the Railway Auditorium in Bhubaneswar.

Describing the initiative as a key step towards building a prosperous and developed Odisha, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to providing transparent, efficient and merit-based employment opportunities to the youth. He noted that since the launch of the recruitment drive in June 2024, more than 45,000 young candidates have already been inducted into government service.

Congratulating the newly appointed candidates and their families, Majhi said that a government job is not merely a position but a responsibility to serve the public with integrity, dedication and transparency. He urged the recruits to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach towards corruption and to ensure that the benefits of development reach the last mile.

According to official sources, the Housing and Urban Development Department accounted for the highest number of appointments, with 364 candidates receiving job letters. The Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department followed closely with 361 appointments. The Energy Department issued 240 appointment letters, while 118 candidates were recruited in the Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Department. The Health and Family Welfare Department saw 111 appointments.

Among the remaining departments, the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department accounted for 86 appointments, while 26 candidates were selected under the Sports and Youth Services Department. The Skill Development and Technical Education Department and the Excise Department each recorded 10 appointments.

The recruitment programme is part of the Odisha government’s ongoing initiative to generate employment opportunities and strengthen public service delivery across the state. The Nijukti Mela serves as a platform to formally induct selected candidates into government service, marking an important milestone in their professional journey.

The Chief Minister further emphasized that Odisha aims to emerge as a leading growth engine in achieving the vision of a “Developed India,” and expressed confidence that the newly recruited workforce will play a crucial role in building a prosperous, inclusive and self-reliant state by 2036.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda