Tuesday, Jul 08, 2003
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Tamil Nadu
By Radha Venkatesan
Two physically handicapped persons, along with other unemployed graduates and postgraduates at the Chennai Collectorate on Monday to seek temporary posts in government service. - Photo: V. Ganesan
It was a hope born out of the despair in nearly one lakh dismissed government employees. And, with yellowed, dog-eared certificates, several men and women, some in their greying 40s and 50s too queued up at the Secretariat here. "I enrolled myself in the employment exchange in 1983. And, I am getting my first interview call now — 20 years later," beamed 42-year-old P. Selvarasi. With a spring in their feet, 1,482 men and women graduates and postgraduates, some only a few years away from retirement, turned up for the interview for 1,000 temporary posts of Secretariat assistant. As women walked in with their grown-up sons and daughters, the recruiting staff and the police on duty were a little perplexed. "Is the job for you or your children?", they asked. And, the grey-haired women promptly responded that they were the candidates. There was a couple too with their little children in tow. A few disabled candidates also turned up. And, on Day 1 of the recruitment drive, at least 215 candidates including several 40-plus men and women were selected within an hour, after scrutiny of certificates. Immediately, they joined duty in various Secretariat departments as well. But, only after signing a contract, which barred them from "joining any union or association".
"Unrealistic criteria"
But, over a 1,000 candidates, mostly those from the OC (other communities) left disappointed as an "unrealistic" upper age limit of 30 was fixed for them. "Only the OC candidates, who had registered on or before November 27, 1985 could only appear for today's interview. But they fixed an upper age limit of 30 for the OC candidates. How could those who had enrolled themselves 18 years ago, after completing their graduation, still be under 30. Unless, we have completed our bachelor's degree at 12, it is not possible," said 38-year-old R. Parthasarathy. As for other communities too, those who had registered after the cut-off seniority, were also strictly turned away. One of the candidates wrote an application on a letter pad, featuring the picture of the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa. But, with just a remuneration of Rs. 4,000 and the post also being temporary, why were those working in private companies also turning up? The 45-year-old K. Veeramani, a rejected candidate, came up with a quick answer. "In private companies, we have to work for long hours — from 9 a.m. to sometimes even 8 p.m. or later. But, in government jobs, we don't have to work that hard. Besides, there is a possibility of our being made permanent staff in view of the large-scale dismissals." But, the question remains whether those recruited today would continue tomorrow or the day after. Indeed, the uncertainty of their "temporary government jobs" and the "unrealistic" seniority criteria ensured that the response to the interview call was not overwhelming, admit officials.
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