Bhubaneswar: With officials reluctant to
work in Maoist-hit backward districts of Orissa, the state
government today said it was formulating a policy to provide
financial and other incentives to non-police employees too.
"Like police personnel, the officials working under
different welfare and administrative departments would also
get financial package for working in backward regions," Chief
Secretary T K Mishra told reporters after a meeting of senior
bureaucrats and police officers.
The meeting observed that development activities in
about 15 Maoist-hit districts were affected due to
non-availability of officials.
As most of the officials prefer to work in peaceful
coastal districts, many in the tribal-dominated and backward
regions were reluctant to attend office due to Maoist fear.
"A large number of posts in schools, hospitals and
block offices remain vacant as the officials are afraid of
joining posts laying vacant in Maoist-hit areas", an official
said.
A number of officials in Koraput district through a
memorandum recently apprised the state administration that
they would rather opt to go on a mass leave unless provided
security at the work place.
While security personnel working in backward regions
were insured and entitled to compensation in the event of
death or injury in Maoist violence, there was no such
provision for the officials of other departments.
"The state government had already submitted a proposal
with the Centre seeking its assistance for financial incentive
to non-police government employees in backward regions,"
Mishra said.
Besides insurance and financial benefits, employees
would also be provided official accommodation and other
facilities available to them in coastal districts, he said.
The government was planning townships in backward
regions, the chief secretary said adding presence of
officials was essential in backward regions to ensure overall
development of the areas.
The meeting further discussed development activities
at Narayanpatna in Koraput.
-PTI
First Published: Friday, January 08, 2010, 00:19