512 Assistant Professors, Assistant Training Officers, Junior Assistants joined Odisha Govt

Bhubaneswar: A total of 512 recently recruited, including Assistant Professors, Assistant Training Officers, and Junior Assistants, have officially joined the Odisha Government on Wednesday. Among them, 158 Assistant Professors have become part of the Higher Education Department, while the Skill Development & Technical Education Department welcomed 10 Assistant Professors, 194 Assistant Training Officers, and 150 Junior Assistants.

The induction program took place at the Convention Centre in Lok Seva Bhawan, where Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended his congratulations to the new recruits. He expressed gratitude for their commitment to the noble profession of guiding and nurturing young minds. Addressing the Higher Education Department’s new assistant professors, the Chief Minister emphasized their role as catalysts of change, contributing to the intellectual and social development of the state. He urged them to collectively build a legacy of knowledge and empowerment.

Highlighting the pivotal role of Higher Education in shaping the state’s future, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of equipping students with academic knowledge, critical thinking skills, creativity, and a global perspective. He revealed that the government has recruited nearly 5,000 teaching and non-teaching staff in recent years and plans to establish Government Degree colleges in arts stream in 18 uncovered blocks to promote equity and higher education throughout the state.

In the realm of Skill Development & Technical Education, the Chief Minister acknowledged the increasing significance of skill development for the youth’s future. Under the 5T framework, he affirmed the government’s commitment to nurturing skill development. The recruitment reflects a significant step towards realizing the vision for a technologically advanced and adaptive workforce, aligning with the “Skilled-in-Odisha” initiative.

Higher Education Minister Atanu Sabyasachi highlighted the expansion of higher education in the state through the 5-T initiative, with a budget reaching Rs. 4000 crore. Skilling Development and Technical Education Minister Pritiranjan Ghadai noted the strengthening of the skill ecosystem under the “Skilled-in-Odisha” initiative.

During the occasion, three new recruits – Assistant Professor Dr. Abhipsa Bal, Assistant Training Officer Pankajini Behera, and Assistant Training Officer Sweety Das – shared their positive experiences. Pankajini Behera, in particular, expressed her gratitude for the fair, efficient, and transparent recruitment process, narrating her journey from a poor background in Mayurbhanj to becoming an Assistant Training Officer through the Sudakhya Yojana. She highlighted the impact of skill training in transforming her life and thanked the Chief Minister for the skilling program.

Skill Development Principal Secretary Usha Padhi delivered the welcome address and Higher Education Commissioner-cum-Secretary Arabinda Agrawal proposed the vote of thanks.