The Odisha cabinet approved a proposal on Thursday to appoint the daughters or stepdaughters of deceased government employees to government jobs, irrespective of their marriage status.

The appointment would be made on compassionate grounds, subject to the
condition that their “dependency” on their parents is proved. The cabinet has also decided to give 10 per cent reservation to ex-agniveers in government jobs and has issued guidelines on how to retain retired employees after their retirement. To ease the workload, it has decided to temporarily re-engage retired government employees with professional expertise on a contractual basis for different spells with certain terms and conditions.

As per the cabinet’s decision, daughters and step-daughters of government employees who are dependent on their parents will get the job of their father or mother after the death of any of the parents.

Under the Odisha Civil Services (Rehabilitation Assistance) Amendment Rules, 2020, unmarried daughters and unmarried step-daughters of deceased government servants are being considered for compassionate appointments.

However, married daughters and stepdaughters are being ruled out.

“There was no provision of employment of married daughters and stepdaughters of government employees. Now married daughters and stepdaughters will get the job of their govt employee mother or father in case of their death. Odisha Civil Services (Rehabilitation Assistance) Amendment Rules, 2020 has been amended to this effect,” officials said.

To employ retired Agniveers in the Uniformed Services of the government, like Police, Forest, Excise, Fire, or any services of the state government, the state will give them 10 per cent reservation in recruitment.

“The 10 per cent reservation shall be over above the reservation applicable for the ex-servicemen. The prescribed age limit has been relaxed and raised by three years. During the recruitment, the retired Agniveers will be exempted from the physical efficiency test,” the state government said. They will be recruited in the Class C and Class D posts.

The Majhi government has also issued new guidelines to recruit retired government employees on a temporary term basis. They can be considered for recruitment until the age of 65.

“The re-employment shall be made initially for a period of one year and can be extended for subsequent period of three years with spells of one year each subject to satisfactory performance up to a total period of four years not beyond the age of sixty-five years of age in any case or till the posts are filled up by regular process whichever is earlier,” the state government in a notification said.