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Massive Turnout for Home Guard Recruitment in Odisha Highlights Unemployment Crisis

The recent Home Guard recruitment in Sambalpur, Odisha, attracted over 8,000 candidates for just 187 positions, highlighting the severe unemployment crisis in the state. Despite the low educational requirements, many highly educated individuals were seen applying for these roles, indicating a lack of respectable job opportunities. The situation has drawn criticism from political parties, particularly Congress, which has accused the government of failing to address the growing unemployment issue. With robust security measures in place, the recruitment event has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of current employment policies and the economic challenges faced by the youth in Odisha.
By Ambika Singh Dec 19, 2025, 20:11 IST
Massive Turnout for Home Guard Recruitment in Odisha Highlights Unemployment Crisis

Severe Unemployment Reflected in Recruitment Drive


The alarming state of unemployment in Odisha was starkly illustrated during the recent Home Guard recruitment in Sambalpur, where over 8,000 candidates showed up for just 187 available positions.


A Flood of Candidates for Limited Positions

On Tuesday, the Sambalpur police conducted the recruitment exam at Jamadarpali airstrip, aimed at filling vacant Home Guard roles across 24 police stations in the district. The overwhelming turnout of candidates highlighted the dire unemployment situation, with more than 8,000 individuals competing for a mere 187 posts.


Low Qualifications Yet High Competition

Despite the minimum educational requirement being only a fifth-grade pass, the competition was fierce. The job primarily involves driving police vehicles and assisting with basic computer tasks, offering a daily stipend of ₹612. The large number of applicants indicates a significant scarcity of stable and respectable job opportunities.


Highly Educated Youth in the Queue

Many candidates present at the recruitment site held degrees in fields such as engineering, MBA, MCA, and various diplomas. This surprising scene revealed that even after attaining higher education, young individuals felt compelled to apply for such low-level positions. Local sources indicated that the lack of job opportunities in the private sector and low salaries drove many to participate in this exam.


Robust Security Measures in Place

Given the large crowd, the police implemented extensive security measures. Under the leadership of Sambalpur's SP Mukesh Bhamu, three additional SPs, 24 inspectors, 86 sub-inspectors, and ASIs were deployed, along with over 100 Home Guards and traffic personnel. Drones were also used to monitor the crowd.


Congress Criticizes Government Amid Unemployment Crisis

In response to the unemployment issue, Congress launched a sharp critique of the central government. They shared a video related to the Home Guard recruitment in Sambalpur, asserting that the overwhelming number of candidates compared to available positions illustrates the severe employment crisis. The party claimed this video serves as evidence of the government's policy failures, arguing that educated youth are forced to seek low-level jobs while the government avoids discussing critical issues like unemployment.


Questions Raised About Employment Policies

Social thinker Kanhu Charan Behera described this situation as a failure of the state's employment and economic policies. He pointed out the lack of employment schemes at the district level, the export of raw natural resources without local value addition, and the shortage of respectable jobs for youth as root causes of this crisis, leading to increased migration, despair, and social instability.


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