Odisha Home Guard Exam on Airstrip for 8000 Candidates Sparks Debate

Odisha Home Guard Exam on Airstrip for 8000 Candidates Sparks Debate

In Odisha’s Sambalpur, a recent Home Guard recruitment drive showed a major gap in employment. Only 187 spots with the requirement of Class 5 education were open for the entire region. However, over 8,000 hopeful candidates arrived at the Jamadarpali airstrip to secure their monthly wages.

The applicants, despite being highly educated with MBA, MCA, and B.Tech degrees, sat on the hot tarmac for a chance at work. This massive turnout shows the masses’ inclination toward government work. 

Massive Turnout of Overqualified Candidates

Thousands of postgraduates lined up for these basic security roles. This sight is a sober symbol of the current job market. Official reports stated, "During the application screening, we found that many highly educated candidates, including graduates, diploma engineers and those with teachers' training, had applied."

Highly skilled talent is now flooding entry-level positions as the stability in government roles seems better than in the private sector. The work is physically hard and requires basic literacy. However, the "fixed monthly payment of a little over Rs. 18,000 offered stability and a sense of financial assurance for families." This trend shows that the youth are using degrees only for basic survival.

Logistical Challenges and Political Backlash

The Sambalpur police had to use an airstrip for the exam as schools and colleges were too small for the massive crowd. "The Sambalpur police administration, therefore, took a unanimous decision to bring all candidates to one location. The Zamadarpali airstrip suited the purpose perfectly," officials explained.

Drones and 150 officers monitored the rows of people on the runway. This strange setup caused a major political debate. Opposition leaders used the viral videos to criticize the current government. They claimed the "brutal reality" of the event shows a failure in economic planning. Seeing youth on a landing strip for low-pay jobs sparked anger. The logistical choice became a symbol of a deeper systemic crisis.

There is a tragic irony in using an airstrip for this purpose. An airstrip symbolizes modern progress and fast travel. Using it as a floor for a mass exam shows that infrastructure is failing the people. The state builds runways for planes but lacks proper spaces to treat its workers with dignity.