As a Joint Secretary in Odisha Secretariat I have had first hand experience of work life of Assistant Section Officers(ASOs)
ASOs are appointed by Home Department after they clear a recruitment test conducted by Odisha Public Service Commission. The test is competitive & aspirants look forward to it.
ASOs are sent to different Departments of Government to work under the direct guidance of Section Officers/Desk Officers & under the overall supervision of a Under Secretary/Deputy Secretary or a Joint Secretary.
ASOs are at the lowest rung of work disposal system in the Secretariat but constitute a very important echelon. They initiate files by putting up correspondence received from various sources.
An ASO will draft letters & send for approval to appropriate higher authority. Once the draft is approved he has to put up its fair copy to the authority for his signature. It is the responsibility of the ASO to see that it is immediately issued by officials in charge of issue & despatch branch.
An ASO has to keep account of how many correspondence got disposed of & how many remain pending. He will, among other things, deal with communications received from State & Union Ministers & even the Prime Minister . The job requires a high level of knowledge, linguistic skill, sincerity & responsibility. A dereliction of duty may embarrass an entire Government.
The ASO does all his work with the help of a computer & puts up files to his authorities through a completely automated system called Odisha State Workflow Automation System(OSWAS).
His workplace is modern, air conditioned & provided with excellent office furniture.
In 99.99 % cases his posting will be in the Odisha Secretariat in the capital city of Bhubaneswar .With the occupational hazard of periodic transfer out of question, life of an ASO does not suffer from uncertainties which transferable jobs carry.
ASOs have very good promotional opportunities. Lucky ones end up retiring as Additional Secretaries at very prestigious levels.
No doubt, ASOs are coveted jobs for most -- now a days esp. for girls & for those who do not like to move outside the State for a variety of reasons.
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