Koraput, 23rd Sept 2025: On Sunday, a written examination was held for 125 Home Guard posts, for which the required educational qualification was only Class V pass. The exam took place at the D.A.V. Government College, Padia, starting at 7 a.m. and concluding at 11 a.m.
However, what stood out was the overwhelming participation of highly educated candidates, including graduates and postgraduates, who eagerly appeared for the exam despite the low qualification requirement. Out of 7,282 applicants, around 5,690 candidates appeared for the exam, which was conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner.
Many candidates expressed that any government job—big or small—is valuable, and they are happy to participate in such recruitment drives. They welcomed the police department’s initiative and are hopeful of success.
The situation highlights the plight of unemployed youth in Koraput district. The intense competition for such a modest job reveals the depth of the unemployment crisis, with educated youth left with few local employment opportunities. Government jobs remain elusive for many.
Even for positions like Anganwadi helper, the +2 (Class 12) qualification criterion has become a barrier. In other cases, applicants are disqualified for not meeting minimal educational qualifications.
Additionally, the poor financial condition of many families forces students to drop out of school, leading to increased dropout rates in the district. In schools, positions such as matron, cook, peon, and sweeper are not being filled from the local youth population, forcing many to migrate to other states as laborers (dadan workers).
In this backdrop, the Home Guard recruitment exam organized by the district police department has brought a new sense of hope and motivation among job-seeking youth. The large turnout has sparked widespread discussion in intellectual circles about the dire job situation and desperation of the educated unemployed.