Malkangiri: In an agriculture-dependent district like Malkangiri, about 85% of the people rely on farming. There are various schemes aimed at the development of agriculture in this district. However, out of 176 sanctioned positions in the district agriculture department, only 82 employees are currently working in the district. The remaining posts in the district agriculture department are vacant, causing a hindrance to 94 development activities.
Specifically, for the district’s 111 panchayats, there are 87 village-level agriculture worker positions under the Block Agriculture Officers. Additionally, there are 3 extra District Agriculture Officer posts, two of which have been vacant for a long time. Among the 9 Block Agriculture Officers, 4 posts are vacant. Four Section Officer posts are also needed; out of these, only 43 employees are working and 44 posts remain vacant.
Similarly, out of 15 Agriculture Assistant Officer posts, 5 are filled and 13 remain vacant, including 2 vacant ones in the middle. Among 17 senior and junior accountants, 10 posts are vacant. Likewise, 5 posts of Junior Assistants in the district are vacant. Out of 10 fourth-grade employees, 8 posts are vacant, and among 7 night guards, 4 posts remain vacant.
Besides these, several other posts are vacant in this important department of agriculture. With 94 posts still unfilled, the district’s development work is facing serious questions from the locals. Therefore, demands have been raised in various quarters to immediately fill these vacant positions.