The decision, taken at the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, is part of the process of restructuring culture service cadre to attract high-quality professionals to this sector for promotion, protection and conservation of Odia language, literature and culture with overall cultural growth of the state.

The step will ensure better management of the dedicated schemes taken up by the department.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of the posts of Culture Development Officer, Assistant Director, Culture, Deputy Director, Culture, Joint Director Culture and Additional Director, Culture in the Odisha Culture Development Service (OCDS) Cadre.

This will enrich the Culture and Heritage of the state and will meet the requirements of the required human resources.

There will be annual provision of an additional amount of approximately Rs 2.17 crore to meet the expenditure of this cadre restructuring.

The Cabinet also approved Rs 1412.79 crore for the implementation of “Integrated Development of Heritage & Monuments and Tourist Destination (IDHMTD) scheme from 2020-21 to 2026-27.

The objective of the scheme is to preserve and revitalize the heritage monuments and temples to reflect Odisha’s unique character by encouraging the integrated development of an aesthetically appealing, accessible, informative and secure environment, combined with efficient public facilities and infrastructure. As many as 159 projects have been taken up under the scheme with an estimated cost of all such projects amounting to Rs 1412.79 Crore.

A cost outlay of Rs.1412.79 crore has been approved for the scheme which will be implemented from 2020-21 to 2026-27.