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The state government today raised the retirement age of its employees to 60 from 58 presently, fulfilling a long-standing demand. The move will benefit around 500,000 state government employees.
The decision to raise the retirement age was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by chief minister Naveen Patnaik. Recently, the state government had announced a raise in retirement age of doctors engaged with the government hospitals and also doctors in three state run medical colleges from 60 to 62. The hike in the retirement age was ratified by the cabinet.
In another significant decision, the government gave its nod for developing a full-fledged airport at Jharsuguda. The state government will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for this purpose.
“We already had several rounds of discussions with the AAI for developing a full-fledged airport at Jharsuguda. In the first phase, 118.75 acres will be handed over to AAI,” said chief secretary J K Mohapatra after the cabinet meeting.
The development of the Jharsuguda airport is estimated to cost Rs 210 crore in the first phase out of which the state government will contribute Rs 75 crore.
The cabinet also decided to bring physiotherapy and occupational therapy under the ambit of health department from the department of women & child development department earlier.
