46,000+ Graduates and Postgraduates Apply for Sanitation Staff Positions

Over 46,000 graduates and postgraduates applied for sanitation worker roles in Haryana due to high unemployment, seeking stable government jobs amidst rising joblessness.

In Haryana, more than 46,000 graduates and postgraduates have applied for contractual sanitation worker positions in the past four months. The data reveals that between August 6 and September 2 of this year, 39,990 graduates and more than 6,112 postgraduates submitted applications for the job, which offers a monthly salary of approximately ₹15,000. Additionally, 117,144 individuals with education up to Class 12 also applied for these positions.

The job description for these sanitation worker positions was clearly outlined, leaving little chance for mistaken applications. Applicants were required to submit an undertaking confirming that they have carefully reviewed the job description, which involves cleaning, sweeping and removing garbage from public spaces, roads and buildings. They must also consent to being posted only in their home district if selected.

The economic stress and high unemployment rates drove the applicants to apply for jobs for which they were overqualified. Some were motivated by the stability offered by government employment.

For example, Rachana Devi, a 29-year-old with a degree in nursery teacher training pursuing a master’s degree in history, expressed that the lack of job opportunities had led her to apply for the sanitation worker position. Similarly, Manisha, an auxiliary nursing midwife and her husband, Danish Kumar, a BEd graduate, also applied due to unemployment. Kumar, who has completed a computer training program, noted that he was better suited for a computer operator position but applied broadly due to the lack of job options.

Recent data from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) indicated increased unemployment in Haryana, particularly among young people. The rate for individuals aged 15 to 29 in urban areas increased to 11.2 percent in the April-June 2024 quarter, up from 9.5 percent in the previous quarter. The rate for women in this age group rose to 17.2 percent from 13.9 percent. The overall unemployment rate in urban areas also increased from 4.1 percent to 4.7 percent.

Sumit Sharma, a 34-year-old postgraduate in pharmacy pursuing a master’s in psychology, and Rahul Dhenwal, a 31-year-old with a BEd currently studying library science, were among the applicants who cited desperation as a driving factor for applying for the sanitation worker roles. Similarly, Ajeet Kaushik, a 27-year-old from Jind with a Class 12 education, applied for the position in hopes of securing a government job to facilitate his marriage plans.

The Haryana government has been working towards job creation over the past decade. Over 145,000 regular government jobs, along with self-employment and job opportunities for 3.7 million youths in the private sector, had been provided. Additionally, about 120,000 people were hired on a contractual basis through Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), with job security for these employees ensured by a recent ordinance. As the government continues to focus on job creation and support, it will be crucial that these initiatives effectively meet the diverse needs of the workforce.