Odisha Restructures Handicrafts Cadre: New 6-Tier Pay Scale & 111 Posts Approved

Odisha’s state administration has set its sights on modernizing the cultural sector by overhauling the way it manages its workforce. This move goes right to the renowned traditions of Odisha’s handicrafts :Pattachitra, Pipili Appliqué Work, Dhokra Art. On Friday, during a Cabinet meeting, the government approved a broad new plan to regulate appointments and create better career pathways within this specialized area.

At the core of this initiative is the newly approved Odisha Handicrafts Ministerial Service (Method of Recruitment and Conditions of Service) Rules, 2026. With this, the state lays down a clear legislative framework for recruitment and working conditions. These regulations will apply to staff serving at the central Directorate of Handicrafts as well as across its 30 district-level offices, all housed under the Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department, supporting artisans directly at the grassroots level.

This change marks a decisive break from the past, reflecting years of bureaucratic shifts. Odisha’s handicrafts sector used to operate within the Industries and MSME Department until 2011, when it merged with Handlooms and Textiles. After more reshuffling in 2020, the separate Directorate of Handicrafts started operations in April 2021, finally paving the way for this focused restructuring.

The overhaul slightly increases the workforce, raising the number of ministerial posts from 108 to 111. This increase matches the uniform pay structure the General Administration and Public Grievance Department established for district cadres. Both the cadre expansion and the revised procedures went through official scrutiny and nods from the General Administration and Public Grievance Department, the Finance Department, and the Law Department before landing on the Cabinet table.

The new rules also bring the pay structure in line with the Odisha Revised Scales of Pay (ORSP) Rules, 2017, building on a revised framework from November 2025. The hierarchy now features a straightforward six-level career ladder: starting with Junior Assistant (Level-04), Senior Assistant (Level-08), Assistant Section Officer (Level-09), Section Officer (Level-10), and Establishment Officer (Level-11), with Senior Establishment Officer (Level-12) at the top.

State officials say these reforms will clear up confusion in hiring, boost institutional strength, and make promotions more transparent. In the end, these changes aim to strengthen how the government supports its artisans, making governance smoother and better suited to safeguard the rich legacy of Odisha’s traditional crafts for the future.