“Around 6,500 candidates already shortlisted”: Dilip Ghosh on Bengal recruitment plan

West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Wednesday announced that around 6,500 employees would soon be recruited across the state, indicating that the newly formed BJP government had begun preparations to address staff shortages in various departments. Speaking during a morning public outreach programme, he stated that discussions had already taken place with departmental officials and that thousands of candidates had previously been shortlisted for recruitment.

According to Dilip Ghosh, a shortage of employees had severely affected administrative functioning in several areas. He stated that in some cases a single employee was responsible for overseeing four panchayats, leading to delays in government work and public services. He added that the matter had already been raised before Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during a Cabinet meeting and said the government intended to clear pending recruitment issues in phases.

When asked about the timeline for the recruitment process, Dilip Ghosh said the government was attempting to move quickly, although the upcoming Assembly session could affect scheduling. He stated that he would again raise the issue with the Chief Minister during the next Cabinet meeting. He also remarked that funds provided by the Central Government must be properly utilised and that many workers who had been deprived would be addressed gradually.

Meanwhile, Municipal Affairs Minister Agnimitra Paul stated that contractual employees working across the state would retain their jobs. She assured that no sudden or inhuman decisions would be taken regarding employment. At present, nearly five lakh contractual workers, including civic volunteers, are engaged in various sectors across the state, while thousands more are employed on a contractual basis in municipalities. Concerns regarding job security had increased among such workers after the change in government.