9,000 Candidates Vie for 187 Home Guard Posts in Sambalpur
Sambalpur: In a stark reflection of rising unemployment, more than 9,000 candidates appeared for the Home Guard recruitment examination conducted by the Sambalpur police on Tuesday, despite only 187 posts being available.
The recruitment drive covered Home Guard vacancies across 24 police stations in the district and witnessed an unexpectedly large turnout. Officials said the response was particularly striking as the minimum educational qualification for the post is Class V, yet many highly educated candidates participated in the examination.
Sources said a significant number of applicants included graduates, engineers, MBA and MCA degree holders, along with candidates possessing diplomas, ITI training, and computer science qualifications.
The Home Guard post carries a daily wage of ₹612, amounting to approximately ₹18,360 per month. Despite the modest remuneration and basic eligibility criteria, the overwhelming participation underscored the growing scarcity of employment opportunities, especially among educated youth in the state.
Officials noted that the posts were created primarily to assist the police in vehicle driving duties and computer-related work across Sambalpur district.
The examination commenced early in the morning at the Jamadarpali airstrip. Candidates were required to report by 6 am, with entry to the examination venue allowed from 9 am. Question papers were distributed at 10:30 am. The test included a 30-minute paragraph-writing section carrying 20 marks, followed by a one-hour general knowledge examination for 30 marks.
To ensure the smooth and fair conduct of the examination, strict security arrangements were put in place under the supervision of Sambalpur Superintendent of Police Mukesh Bhamoo. The deployment included three Additional SPs, 24 inspectors, 86 SIs and ASIs, along with over 100 Home Guards and traffic police personnel.
Drones were also deployed at the examination venue to monitor candidates and maintain discipline throughout the process.
