Engineers, Postgraduates Join Odisha Home Guard Amid Job Crunch

A total of 118 candidates participated in the district’s first-ever Home Guard passing-out parade after completing 82 days of intensive training. Of them, 34 are highly educated, holding degrees in engineering, sociology and other postgraduate disciplines.

The contrast is stark: against the modest eligibility criteria, more than 10,000 applicants had responded to the February recruitment notification, many of them far exceeding the required qualification.

Rourkela Superintendent of Police Nitesh Wadhwani said the trend reflects both the competitive job market and a genuine aspiration among young people to serve in uniform.

“Many candidates chose the role because they want to join the police or paramilitary forces. Experience as Home Guards gives them an edge in future recruitments in departments such as police, forest and excise,” he said.

The passing-out parade, held at the Rourkela Police Reserve Ground, drew a large turnout of officials, family members and local residents. For many recruits, the job represents both a foothold in public service and a pathway to their long-term ambitions.

“From the beginning, I wanted to join the police force. Odisha Police vacancies are rare and may be announced soon. Joining the Home Guard was the best step I could take to stay connected to the services,” said Raja Tanti, an engineering graduate who was among those inducted.

“The induction of overqualified candidates into entry-level posts highlights a growing trend visible across several states, where young graduates increasingly compete for contractual, low-salaried or temporary government roles in the absence of adequate employment opportunities,” said Manoj Jena, a social activist.