Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi’s government has introduced new regulations benefiting retired firemen and updated the ownership of Gopalpur Port. The Odisha Cabinet has approved the Odisha Retired Firemen (Employment in Uniformed Services) Regulations, 2024, to help retired firemen find jobs in uniformed services.
The new rules will exempt retired firemen from physical fitness tests for third and fourth-class posts. They will also get a 10 percent reservation in these jobs and a three-year increase in the age limit for pensions. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja confirmed these changes after today’s cabinet meeting.
Previously, Chief Minister Majhi had proposed reducing the age limit by five years. However, the cabinet has now set the age limit increase at three years. The rules also provide an additional 10 percent reservation for retired firemen, on top of existing reservations for retired servicemen.
In another update, the cabinet approved changes to the Odisha Civil Service (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules-2020. The new rules will offer preferential employment support to married daughters and married step-daughters of deceased government employees, in addition to unmarried daughters and step-daughters.
The cabinet also approved the transfer of Gopalpur Port ownership. The state has signed a revised concession agreement to transfer shares from Shapoorji Pallonji Port Maintenance Pvt Ltd and Odisha Stevedores Ltd to Adani Port and Special Economic Zone Ltd (SEZ). Gopalpur Ports Limited, which sought to transfer 95 percent of its stake, will now be fully acquired by Adani Ports following an international competitive bidding process.
These updates aim to improve job opportunities for retired firemen and advance the development of port infrastructure in Odisha.