Unemployment Crisis in Odisha: When Graduates Line Up for Home Guard Jobs
It is both shocking and disheartening to witness thousands of highly educated youths in Odisha queuing up for Home Guard jobs that require only a Class 5 qualification. This desperate rush for a contractual, low-paying job highlights a deep-rooted crisis—one that exposes the failure of our education system and the lack of stable employment opportunities.
In Rourkela alone, around 6,500 applicants, including B.Tech and MCA graduates, have applied for just 107 Home Guard vacancies. The number is expected to cross 7,000 by the last date. A similar trend is seen in Sundargarh, where over 3,000 aspirants are competing for 92 posts. What does this tell us about the state of our society? It is a grim reminder that degrees are no longer a guarantee of employment.
*Who Is to Blame?*
The blame must be shared across multiple levels.
1. *Lack of Job Opportunities:* Odisha, like many other states, has failed to generate adequate employment, forcing educated youths to settle for menial jobs far below their qualifications. The promise of "skilled India" remains largely unfulfilled.
2. *Faulty Education System:* Our education system prioritizes rote learning over skill development. Students memorize answers, write exams, and forget everything afterward. There is little focus on practical knowledge, innovation, or entrepreneurship, leaving graduates unprepared for real-world challenges.
3. *Government Apathy:* Despite increasing unemployment, there is no structured plan to create sustainable job opportunities. Policies remain on paper, while the youth struggle to make ends meet.
*The Rising Threat*
When thousands of educated but jobless youth see no future, frustration builds up. If this issue is not addressed soon, the consequences could be disastrous. A society with millions of unemployed, disillusioned individuals is a ticking time bomb—one that could lead to unrest, increased crime, or even social upheaval.
*The Way Forward*
1. *Revamp the Education System:* Move beyond rote learning. Introduce practical skills, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programs to make students employable.
2. *Job Creation Strategies:* The government must focus on industrialization, infrastructure development, and supporting startups to generate more employment.
3. *Prioritizing Local Needs:* Instead of forcing educated youth into low-paying jobs, authorities should create specialized roles where their skills can be put to proper use.
The situation in Odisha is not an isolated case but a symptom of a larger national problem. If immediate measures are not taken, the future will be bleak—not just for the unemployed but for society as a whole. The time to act is now, before this crisis turns into a catastrophe.
Sanjay Pattnayak
Sundargarh
