Post-Graduates Queue Up for Sweepers Jobs in Uttar Pradesh

Kanpur: For some 3,000 vacancies for sweepers in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur, civic officials have been flooded with over six lakh applications and counting. Those who have applied include graduates and post-graduates.

22-year-old Chandan Kumar, who is completing his post-graduation from Kanpur's government college, says he would be happy to land the job, even though it pays very well.

"There is no shame in applying for the post of a sweeper. Today jobs are very hard to come by. I can always change my career later," Mr Kumar told NDTV.

Officials say no educational qualification is required for this job. But they are overwhelmed by the sheer number of applicants who are highly qualified.

Their biggest headache now is to sift through all these applications and hold interviews.

"It will take us some time to filter these applications. The number of forms is huge. How will we carry out so many interviews?" wondered Umesh Pratap, a senior municipal official.

"Also, so many graduates and post graduates have applied. So many graduates and post-graduates apply every year even for menial jobs because there are no jobs," he explains.

A central government report suggests that the number of unemployed people in Uttar Pradesh could touch 1 crore by next year. The state government says it requires more time to address the problem.