Every year the State Employment Exchange office releases statistics but it creates less than a ripple. Those who register do so in the hope of getting a government job at some point in their life. But for many of them it is a road to nowhere.
As of March 31, 85 lakh persons, half of them women, were registered with the exchange. The most registrations were in the Backward Class category with around 35,97,194 including over 19 lakh women, followed by Most Backward Class persons with 21.69 lakh, including 10.64 lakh women. According to the data 1,11,605 persons with disabilities were also registered. As many as 7,44,430 teachers – graduates and postgraduates – also were registered.
R. Srinivasan, registered in 1996 after graduating from BE is yet to hear from the Exchange. “At least 10 to 15 students from my batch have also registered but none of us have received any intimation so far,” he says. He has since then finished ME and teaches in a college.
Officials of the Department of the Differently Abled have denied that over a lakh persons are jobless.
No deletions
An official believes that the Exchange has not deleted the names of registrants who might have crossed the age limit. “The Exchange does not delete the names of employed persons either,” he adds.
“It is only statistics. Before 2002, seniority was considered for employment and there was hope of getting a government job. But with the setting up of Teachers Recruitment Board (TRB) and the Public Service Commission also conducting exams for all groups, the registration is of little use,” says K.P.O. Suresh, State president, TN PG Teachers’ Association.
“For many years we have been demanding that those of us registered for several decades with the exchange should be exempted from the TRB test or the TET. Instead we should be considered on the basis of seniority,” he explains.
When R. Thanga Muniyandi registered in 1999, he had been hopeful of finding a job close home. “Earlier aided colleges would shortlist 20 candidates for each post from nearby areas. In the last two years colleges have appointed 1,500 candidates but none of those registered with the Exchange,” says Mr. Muniyandi, joint secretary of NET/SLET Association.
He rues that during appointment seniority and NET/SLET qualifications are ignored.
With setting up of TRB and service commissions holding exams, registration is of little use.