Kolkata, Oct. 14 -- Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced that the state Cabinet had cleared 45,185 new government posts, with the Finance department approving the additional positions.

The move is part of the government's larger recruitment drive, with a target of around one lakh appointments by May next year.

Schools account for the largest share, with 33,199 posts sanctioned. These include 4,432 assistant teachers at the primary level, 6,052 at the upper-primary level, 12,343 assistant teachers in secondary schools and 1,032 headmasters. The Panchayat and Rural Development department will receive 7,019 posts, while 1,886 have been cleared in technical education, covering officers and clerical staff.

Another 996 posts have been sanctioned in the state police, including positions ranging from lady constables and assistant sub-inspectors to inspectors, assistant commissioners and deputy commissioners. Adhikari said recruitment would be conducted transparently, in accordance with rules and on merit.

The announcement comes amid several recruitment initiatives. The CM recently announced 9,000 police recruitments, while recruitment for 1,131 sub-inspectors in Kolkata Police is underway. Results for 4,000 Kolkata Police constable posts are expected by December. Around 12,000 newly recruited constables received appointment letters on Monday.

The state has also decided to fill nearly 15,000 additional posts across the Home, Health, Judiciary, MSME, Forest, Fire Services, Correctional Services, state police and Kolkata Police departments. Appointment letters are expected within six to eight months, with recruitment through the Public Service Commission and Police Recruitment Board.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet cleared 90 acres of land at Haldia for a beverage factory. The Cabinet also approved a special Puja bonus of Rs 5,000 for 19,554 workers of closed tea gardens, who have not received salaries since January 2023. Their families will additionally receive 50 kg of rice during the festive season. The CM said over 58,000 Durga pujas are being held this year, with pending permissions for some Puja committees also cleared.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.