A staggering 11,654 candidates have applied for just 240 home guard vacancies in Berhampur and Ganjam, highlighting the alarming rise of educated unemployment in Odisha.
According to police officials, the Ganjam police district received 7,500+ applications for 135 posts, while Berhampur district saw over 4,150 applicants for 105 positions. The job requires only a Class V pass, yet authorities report many candidates possess graduate and postgraduate degrees.
Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M. said all applicants will be permitted to take the written exam, with no prior qualification screening.
“We’ll shortlist around 500–550 candidates after the test for physical and document verification,” he confirmed.
Ganjam SP Subhendu Patra stated that a special team has been formed to process and verify the high volume of applications.
The massive response for low-skilled, low-paying posts — home guards earn just ₹612 per day — underscores a deepening employment crisis in Odisha.
Educationist Sudhir Rout said the situation reflects a disturbing statewide trend, where even B.Tech and MBA graduates are competing for basic positions due to lack of suitable job opportunities.
“It’s not just about this post — it’s a wake-up call for our employment policies,” he said.
