Graduates and Post-Grads Queue Up for Class V Home Guard Posts in Odisha
The Home Guard position offers a daily allowance of Rs. 639 on a contractual or requirement basis, equating to slightly over Rs. 18,000 monthly
By : DC Web Desk
Update: 2025-12-22 11:21 GMT
A minimum qualification of Class V was required for 187 vacant Home Guard posts in Sambalpur, Odisha, yet the recruitment drive attracted over 8,000 applicants, including many graduates and postgraduates. On December 16, the large number of candidates forced the Sambalpur police to convert the Jamadarpali airstrip into an examination centre. Managing this influx required deploying about 150 police personnel and using drones for aerial surveillance to ensure fairness. The unusual venue quickly went viral on social media.
The Home Guard position offers a daily allowance of Rs. 639 on a contractual or requirement basis, equating to slightly over Rs. 18,000 monthly. Despite the modest pay, candidates see it as a vital source of financial stability for their families.
The process includes a 90-minute written test (50 marks) on general knowledge and essay writing, followed by a physical fitness test for qualifiers.
The high number of applications highlights unemployment issues. Deputy Superintendent of Police (Home Guard) Bilkis Nesha noted over 10,600 initial applicants; after rejecting underqualified or underage ones, more than 8,000 appeared.
Applicants' qualifications—graduates, postgraduates, diploma engineers, and trained teachers—far exceed the minimum, showing desperation for government jobs amid limited opportunities. Similar overcrowding occurred in districts like Rourkela.
Indians prefer government jobs for their financial stability, reliability, and social prestige, often viewed as better for marriage prospects. This rush persists despite the Odisha Economic Survey Report 2025 showing improvements in labour force participation and worker population ratios, especially among women.
While agriculture and allied sectors remain strong with growth in fisheries and livestock, workers are shifting to value-added sectors. Acknowledging employment as a key concern, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that 30,032 people have been employed in government since the BJP took power, promising 65,000 jobs in the first two years.
This report was filed by Deccan Chronicle intern S. Krishna Kumari Patro.