Brahmaputra Board Struggles Due to Manpower Crisis and Mismanagement

The Brahmaputra Board, established in 1983 to manage flood and erosion control in Northeast India, is facing a severe manpower shortage and mismanagement. Recruitment at all levels stopped years ago, resulting in a critical lack of engineers. Recent recruitment through SSC and UPSC has led to high turnover, as many recruits from outside the Northeast lack regional knowledge and quickly leave for better opportunities.

The promotion policy has also been problematic, with many employees retiring without a single promotion. Additionally, the North Eastern Hydraulic and Allied Research Institute (NE-HARI), part of the Board, is set to be transferred to a smaller institute, a move criticized by insiders. To resolve the crisis, sources suggest recruiting locally, revising the recruitment process, and restoring the Board’s self-recruitment system.