Bhubaneswar, Jul 21 (KNN) A severe staff crunch at the District Industries Centre (DIC) in Koraput is affecting the effective implementation of government schemes aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among unemployed youth, particularly in tribal and rural areas.

According to official data, 10 out of 14 sanctioned posts for Assistant Industries Officers (AIOs) remain vacant, leaving only four officers to oversee the entire district, reported TOI.

Ideally, each block should have at least one AIO responsible for creating awareness and facilitating access to schemes under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) framework.

However, with the limited staff, officers are burdened with managing multiple blocks, often restricting them to desk duties at the district office and hampering field-level engagement.

This shortage has led to poor outreach and a lack of awareness among potential beneficiaries.

The impact is evident: only two individuals have applied for capital subsidies under MSME schemes in Koraput this year — a figure experts say reflects serious gaps in information dissemination and guidance.

Local activist Ajit Pata expressed concern over the situation. He stated, “This is in stark contrast to the government’s push for self-employment and MSME promotion in regions like Koraput.”

“AIOs are essential to these efforts, but with most posts vacant, the initiatives are falling short,” he added.

In addition to the vacant AIO positions, two posts of assistant managers at the DIC are also unfilled, further slowing the implementation and monitoring of schemes.

Chinmayee Parida, General Manager, DIC, Koraput, acknowledged the staffing issue. “There is certainly a shortage of staff, and it has affected scheme implementation to some extent,” he said.

“However, we are doing our best with the limited resources and are hopeful that new staff will be recruited by October.”

Activists and observers have stressed the urgency of filling these vacancies. “Unless the administrative gaps are addressed promptly, many aspiring entrepreneurs may continue to miss out on crucial government support.”

“Bridging the gap between policy and on-ground implementation is vital to strengthen the DIC’s presence and impact,” said Bhabani Mishra, another local activist.

(KNN Bureau)