Bhubaneswar: Odisha has begun to witness reverse migration as job opportunities expand across the state, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said on Monday while handing over appointment letters to 1,326 new recruits at the 16th state-level Nijukti Mela. The state government highlighted both recent government hiring and fresh investment commitments as drivers of the employment uptick.
Government recruitment and local jobs
At the event, the Chief Minister underlined the state administration’s focus on large-scale recruitment to bolster public services and to provide opportunities for youth. The government said it has given appointment to over 45,068 youths since June 2024.
Majhi attributed rising inward movement of workers to rapid industrial and sectoral development over the past two years. He told attendees that investments amounting to around ₹21 lakh crore have been attracted in this period, which the government estimates could yield nearly 20 lakh jobs across various sectors.
Recent outreach and proposed projects
Discussing recent investor outreach from Delhi-NCR, the Chief Minister said officials held 46 meetings with 208 prospective investors and signed 38 memoranda of understanding, involving proposed investments of ₹66,392 crore with potential to create 54,135 jobs, according to the state release.
New appointees and departmental breakdown
The 1,326 appointment letters issued at the Nijukti Mela covered nine departments. The state provided figures for certain categories of the intake, including junior engineers for several departments.
| Category | Number appointed |
|---|---|
| Junior Engineers, Housing & Urban Development | 364 |
| Junior Engineers, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water | 361 |
| Other recruits (total at mela) | 1,326 (across nine departments) |
Message to new recruits
“Government service is fundamentally about public service,”
Majhi urged new appointees to listen to citizens respectfully, address grievances within stipulated timelines, and remain free from corruption. He emphasised that the measure of success in public service lies in the difference an employee makes in people’s lives.
Officials' aims and next steps
The state said the recruitment drive is part of a broader strategy to prepare Odisha for accelerated growth, with long-term targets that include positioning the state as a growth engine by 2047 and pursuing prosperity by 2036. Officials at the mela reiterated the push for both public and private sector job creation through investment facilitation.
- What the state reported: 45,068 appointments since June 2024; ₹21 lakh crore in investments attracted over two years; near 20 lakh potential jobs.
- Recent outreach: 46 meetings in Delhi-NCR with 208 investors, 38 MoUs totalling ₹66,392 crore (proposed) and potential for 54,135 jobs.
- Immediate impact: 1,326 appointment letters issued at the 16th Nijukti Mela across nine departments.
Practical note for jobseekers and families
Aspiring candidates and their families in Odisha should monitor official department portals and local district offices for formal joining instructions and further recruitment schedules. Where relocation is involved, prospective employees are advised to verify their offer letters, join through authorised channels and retain documentation of appointment and identity proofs. Those moving back to Odisha as part of reverse migration should also check local municipal and welfare schemes for entitlements linked to government employment.
The state government framed the event as an indicator that policy measures to attract investment and expand public sector employment are beginning to yield visible results for the workforce. Authorities said continued monitoring of implementation and investor follow-through would determine how many of the proposed projects translate into on-ground jobs.
Reporting from Bhubaneswar.
