Bhubaneswar, Dec 17: In a stark reflection of Odisha’s growing unemployment challenge, more than 9,000 job seekers converged at the Jamadarpali airstrip in Sambalpur on Tuesday to compete for just 187 Home Guard positions. The massive turnout for the recruitment drive, which covered 24 police stations in the district, underscored the acute scarcity of government jobs, especially for educated youth.

According to officials, the applicant pool included a large number of highly qualified candidates such as graduates, engineers, and MBA holders, all hoping to secure stable employment. The presence of overqualified aspirants competing for entry-level posts highlighted the limited employment avenues available in the region.

The recruitment process began in the early hours, with candidates reporting at the venue by 6 am. Entry into the examination ground started at 9 am, following strict verification and security checks. The written examination lasted for one hour and consisted of a 20-mark paragraph writing test and a 30-mark general knowledge paper.

To manage the unprecedented crowd and ensure smooth conduct of the examination, elaborate security arrangements were put in place. Three Additional Superintendents of Police, 24 inspectors, 86 Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspectors, along with more than 100 Home Guards and traffic police personnel, were deployed across the venue.

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