Sundargarh SSEPD department faces crisis due to unfilled district head post
A shortage of staff and the absence of a regular District Social Security Officer have impacted departmental operations in Sundargarh.
The functioning of the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department in Sundargarh district has been affected by numerous vacancies, according to The New Indian Express.
The post of District Social Security Officer (DSSO) at the department headquarters in Sundargarh town is currently vacant. The office is presently being run by five junior assistants and a block level officer (BLO).
Nine out of the 17 blocks in the district, including Bisra, Bonai, Hemgir, Lahunipada, Lefripada, Nuagaon, Subdega, Sundargarh Sadar and Tangarpali, lack regular BLOs. In these areas, junior assistants are performing the duties of BLOs.
The department also lacks sanctioned BLO posts for the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC), Sundargarh Municipality, Rajgangpur Municipality and Birmitrapur Municipality. There is no senior-level officer stationed in the Rourkela urban area, which has an estimated population of eight lakh.
Talsara MLA and Deputy Speaker Bhabani Shankar Bhoi drew the attention of SSEPD Minister Nityananda Gond to these vacancies on October 22. Bhoi stated that the lack of a regular DSSO has caused difficulties due to the rising administrative workload.
In-charge DSSO Mitali Rana said the government has been informed about the current vacancy situation.