Revealing shocking numbers, as many as 17, 47, 824 people have applied for the 368 peon posts available in the UP Secretariat, clearly showcasing the shocking rate of unemployment in UP.
What is even more shocking is the fact among the people who have applied, 201 have completed their Doctorate degree and around 20,000 have Master's degree in various disciplines. As many as 8 lakh people have completed their high school qualification, as well.
The secretariat administration that will be recruiting the employees is now stuck in a major problem due to the massive response that it did not expect. The last date to apply was September 14 but the figure of applicants crossed the 20 lakh mark.
If the candidates are recruited through the direct interview method, it may easily take a couple of years.In the past three and a half years, the government has failed miserably in providing employment to the youth or even allowing them to become self-reliant. "It should be a matter of shame for the people in power," said a BSP leader in a daily.
The candidates, as quoted in TOI said, "It's better to work as a peon than to roam without a job," said Alok, an applicant who holds a PhD degree. Graduate Ratan Yadav added, "there is nothing wrong in taking up menial work."