Job stress and problems encountered by Panchayat development officers

Abstract

Job stress and problems in working climate are inter related and important factors affecting workforce productivity. The present study was conducted during 2016-17 to assess the job stress among Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) in seven districts of Northern Karnataka. Using incidental meeting technique of non probability sampling method 30 PDOs from each district were taken as sample, totally comprising of 210 PDOs. The pre structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The results of the study depicted that, majority of respondents were found to possess overall job stress index of 64.14. More than half the number (60.50 %) of respondents belonged to medium level of job stress followed by 31.00 and 8.60 per cent, who belonged to high and low level of job stress. A majority of the PDOs (87.14 %) expressed political interference in implementing schemes and programmes as the major problem encountered during implementation of panchayat programmes. Keeping the political parties outside the Panchayats was suggested as the solution for the above said problem by 40.44 per cent of PDOs followed by making decisions at meetings / Gram Sabha (30.05 %) and maintaining good communication (17.49 %). Heavy workload and mental stress was felt as a problem by 89.05 per cent of respondents. The possible measures to reduce this problem were to conduct stress management trainings (45.99 %), recruitment of additional staff (29.55 %) and stopping target based programme implementation (25.67 %) etc.