The stark reality of Odisha's employment challenge was laid bare on the tarmac of the Jamadarpali Airstrip in Sambalpur on December 16. In an unprecedented scene, over 8,000 job aspirants gathered on the runway to appear for a written examination, competing for a mere 183 positions in the state's Home Guard force. The drone-captured images of thousands seated in rows on the airstrip have become a powerful symbol of the steep competition for secure employment in the state.
A Logistical Marvel Driven by Desperation
The decision to use the disused airstrip was born out of necessity. With local schools unavailable due to ongoing exams, authorities needed a vast, open space to accommodate the overwhelming number of applicants. The Jamadarpali Airstrip, which had recently hosted an Agniveer recruitment rally, fit the bill. Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamoo stated that the choice was also intended to "ensure transparency" in the recruitment process, a significant concern as the state investigates paper leak cases in other exams.
For candidates like 33-year-old Manoranjan Bel, a driver from Geunpura, the day began before dawn. "We were asked to report at 6 am and it took at least three hours to get settled," he recounted. The administration deployed massive resources to manage the crowd, including three additional SPs, 24 inspectors, and hundreds of constables. Candidates were divided into groups of 50, each monitored by a sub-inspector and a constable, with drones providing aerial surveillance. A senior officer even had to use a loudspeaker to read out exam questions.
Why a Home Guard Job Attracts Thousands
The allure of the Home Guard position lies in its perceived stability and benefits. As a voluntary auxiliary force, Home Guards assist police in emergencies, disasters, and crowd control. The minimum educational requirement is only Class 5, but the role offers a daily duty allowance of Rs 639, allowances for postings outside the home district, and, crucially, a 10% quota in police constabulary recruitment.
This has made the position a coveted stepping stone, especially for educated youth facing a barren job market. Officials noted that many applicants for the Sambalpur posts were overqualified, holding Master's and technical degrees. The demand is further fueled by shrinking recruitment in the lower police ranks and existing vacancies in the Home Guard corps itself, which has about 17,000 personnel against a sanctioned strength of 20,175.
A Statewide Trend and Political Reactions
The scramble in Sambalpur is not an isolated incident. Similar rushes were seen in November when 12,000 applicants sought 200 posts in Sundargarh, and recently where 4,000 applied for 100 positions in Jharsuguda. The opposition Congress has seized on the imagery to criticize the ruling BJP government. Congress legislature party leader Rama Chandra Kadam accused the government of failing to create adequate public sector jobs, forcing youth to migrate or settle for posts below their qualifications.
In response, state officials highlighted that since the Mohan Charan Majhi government took power in June 2024, 37,371 educated youths have been offered government positions. However, data from the Skill Development department reveals the scale of the challenge: as of October 31, 2025, a staggering 13.09 lakh educated youths are registered with district employment offices.
For applicants like 34-year-old Subhash Padhan, the job represents a chance to stay with his family in Sambalpur. For 24-year-old Ratan Bagh, the first college graduate in his family from Kuchinda, it is a potential pathway to his dream police job. Their collective presence on that airstrip runway is a powerful testament to the enduring quest for job security and dignity in Odisha's challenging economic landscape.
