Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Government was contemplating to induct women into Fire Services, said Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Wednesday.
He was speaking at a function, organised to hand over appointment letters to selected candidates for the posts of Firemen and Fire Service driver, at conference hall of OUAT in Bhubaneswar.
The Chief Minister said the government would consider the proposal for induction of women into the Fire services if it is presented to further empower them in a new field. The government would bring an amendment to rename the ‘Fireman’ as Fire Fighter or ‘Agni Jodha’ to facilitate women’s participation in the Fire Services, he added.
Majhi handed over appointment letters to 826 Aagnik (Firemen) and 115 Aagnik Drivers on the occasion. With this appointment, the government has filled up 22% of the total sanctioned posts of 3,832 Aagnik and 387 Aagnik Fire Service driver in one day, he added.
Stating that vacancy in an emergency service providing agency like Fire Brigade was not advisable, he said new appointments would strengthen their services.
The chief minister further said total 10,000 vacant posts including those in Home department and others would be filled up soon. The appointment of Home Guards has been stopped since 2020. Total 2,416 Home Guard posts would also be filled up soon, he added.
Among others, Deputy Chief Ministers KV Singhdeo and Pravati Parida, BJP MLA Babu Singh, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department Satyabrata Sahu, DG of Fire Services Sudhansu Sarangi and senior officials were present at the function.