MBAs, LLBs, Engg grads slug it out for driver's job at High Court
Gujarat's government has been named the country's top job creator, but signs of persistent unemployment have been brought home to the state's top court.
The minimum qualification required for the driver’s post is Class 12
Gujarat government may have been named country’s top job creator by the Union government, but unemployment remains a burning issue in the State. Gujarat High Court’s recruitment ad for 24 vacant posts of drivers in different courts of the State saw applications from 10,300 candidates, of which, 55% are graduates and postgraduates. The minimum qualification required was Class 12. Even candidates with LLB, M Tech, MBA, MSc and engineering degrees have applied for the Class IV job that pays a monthly salary of Rs 25,000.
Also, for the first time in the history of the high court, seven women candidates have also applied for the posts. The Gujarat HC had issued the ad on February 19 this year and March 15 was the last date for form submission. According to the data received by Mirror, there are 488 candidates with an MA, 101 with M Com, 20 with MSc, 34 with LLB and 94 technical and science degree holders including ME and MTech.
A maximum of 2,900 candidates have a BA, while there are 802 with BCom, 92 with BSc and 366 with diploma in engineering. The list also contains a sizeable number of BE, BTech and BCA candidates. The total figures of candidate having degree of bachelors, masters, engineering and technical field exceeds 5400 which is around 55% of the total number of applicants. While the national employment data released by the Centre says that Gujarat has the lowest unemployment rate of 0.9 per cent in the country, the Opposition alleges Gujarat has provided only 12,689 jobs in the past two years against the total number of registered unemployed which is 4.95 lakh.
The HC administration also invited applications from women for the driver’s post The HC administration also invited applications from women and prescribed the qualification criteria for them as per the government rules. Seven women who had applied for the post appeared for an elimination round along with the male candidates on April 29. If chosen, they will have to take a driving test in June. Registrar General of the Gujarat HC PR Patel said, “I will neither deny nor confirm the figures as we have to maintain confidentiality.” The candidates Mirror contacted refused to comment.
An HC employee, requesting anonymity, said, “Even engineers and MBAs earn less than Rs 20,000 per month and that is the reason there are so many applicants for the post. Job security is most important. Besides, general category candidates get benefit of age relaxation if they want to apply for other vacancies in the government.” He further said, “HC gives the benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission.
The starting salary for a peon or a driver is more than Rs 25,000 per month along with other benefits. So, even if the job is not commensurate with the qualification, the pay and benefits are an attraction.” “The BJP government has commercialised education in the State. While students have to pay huge fees, they do not get jobs as the government has failed to generate employment. It hold summits like Vibrant Gujarat to benefit a few industrialists but there still are no job opportunities for the public at large,” said Amit Chavda, President, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee. When Mirror contacted Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, he said, “I am not aware of these things.”
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The BJP govt has commercialised education in the State. While students have to pay huge fees, they do not get jobs as the government has failed to generate employment
