Staff shortage hits Kodagu district

Zilla Panchayat and its jurisdiction has 23 departments. Of the sanctioned 5,075 vacancies, 1,246 are lying vacant. In seven departments, there is more than 50 per cent vacancy. “This being the situation, how can the government programmes reach the commonman?” asked a government employee.

Both the Centre and the State governments are spending crores of rupees for the development of agriculture sector. Unfortunately, more than 50 per cent of the vacancies in the agriculture department are lying vacant. The sanctioned posts in agriculture department in the district is 161. Of which, 79 posts are lying vacant. Horticulture department has 66 posts. Of which, 32 are yet to be filled. The sericulture department has only 18 posts filled out of 36. The Watershed development department has 16 staff, although the sanctioned posts are 32. Handlooms and textiles department has only 2 staff. The sanctioned post is 3.

The sanctioned post to district health and family welfare department is 841. Of which, 291 are lying vacant. In fact, the district does not have Dsitrict Health Officer for the last several months. Compared to many departments, Department of Public Instruction is much better than others as 2,303 posts have been filled. The sanctioned posts are 2,599. The vacancies in other departments are as follows—Zilla Panchayat engineering—30 (86), Social Forestry—9 (24), ITDP—81 (177), Adult education—1 (4), District Youth Service and Sports—1 (5), District Social Welfare—25 (122), BCM—41 (134), Women and Child Welfare—32 (85), Geology—2 (10), Fisheries—11 (28), Animal husbandry—125 (280).

Of the 3,952 C category posts, 836 are lying vacant. Of the 740 D category jobs, 227 are lying vacant.