education

Updated: Aug 24, 2015 20:12 IST

An unanticipated response of over 75,000 applications for the 30 posts of peons in the Directorate of Economics and Statistics of the Chhattisgarh government forced officials to cancel the examination scheduled for August 30.



This large number shocked the officials even as the concerned department realised it was ill-prepared to conduct the test for the Grade-D government post on the given day. Ultimately, it was officially announced that the exam would not be held.



“We were left astounded. For the vacancy of 30 posts of peon required across the state, as many as 70,000 applications were received online and over 5,000 through the post,” Amitabh Panda, commissioner of the department, told HT.



Interestingly, the recruitment eligibility criterion was qualification up to Class V. However, “several engineers and post-graduates in arts and science also applied for the job”, said Panda.

A decision about holding the exam will be taken after few months since bigger arrangements need to be carried out, Panda said.



According to experts, the massive response not just suggests the magnitude of existing unemployment among youth but the misplaced choice of career opted for by the qualified candidates.

“The challenge faced by our young people, in terms of unemployment or underemployment, is enormous. Awareness must be created at high-school level about various options available in other sectors as well,” said noted academician Jawahar Surisetti.

