BJP, Cong hit out at Odisha govt over abolishment of contractual recruitment system 

The state units of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have taken strong exception to the government’s announcement regarding the abolishment of the contractual recruitment system. 

Leader of Opposition (LoP) Jay Narayan Mishra said the government shouldn’t disappoint youths as it did earlier. By announcing this, the government is trying to correct the mistake it committed way back in 2013. 

"When will the 8, 80,000 registered unemployed youths in the state will get appointment?” questioned Mishra while urging the state government to clarify how many contractual employees of which departments will be benefitted from this announcement. 

He also wanted to know from the government if the 57,000 contractual employees will receive their outstanding salaries. 
Congress too took strong exception to the government’s announcement. The grand old party said the announcement was made keeping the Dhamnagar by-election in view. 

“It is a good decision but it should have been done earlier. Now, the government has done this with the intention to get votes. Had the announcement come after the by-election, we would have been happier,” said senior Congress leader Suresh Routray. 

Senior Congress leader Jayadev Jena said, “I think it is a trick played by the Biju Janata Dal to woo young voters and win the Dhamnagar by-election.”

In response to the allegations levelled by the BJP and Congress, BJD leader Sashi Bhushan Behera said, “At a time when 57,000 families across the state are rejoicing at the decision of the government, the Opposition giving such statements only reveals their true colours.” 
 

Notably, the government today issued a detailed notification regarding the abolishment of the contractual recruitment system in the state. 

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had made an announcement in this regard yesterday, terming it as a Diwali gift for the 57,000 employees. The government will spend approximately Rs1300 crore more per annum, he had said. 

Soon after the announcement, the members of Odisha contractual employees association jumped into celebration mode. Welcoming the decision, they burst crackers in front of the association office in Bhubaneswar.