Bhubaneswar, March 9 -- As many as 1,294 newly-recruited officials joined several departments of Odisha government today.

While 725 officials joined the School & Mass Education (S&ME) Department, 280 joined the Finance Department and 129 in the Rural Development Department, said the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in a statement.

Besides, 160 outstanding sports persons joined five departments-Steel & Mines, Revenue & Disaster Management, Higher Education, S&ME and Home, it added.

Attending the orientation programme for the newly-recruited officials at the convention centre of Lok Seva Bhawan here, the Chief Minister said the state government is working hard to bring transformative changes in the lives of people of Odisha.

"People's will...