BHUBANESHWAR: Job seekers on Sunday demanded increase in upper age limit for all state government jobs. They want the government to increase it from 32 to 42 years for the benefit of the unemployed youths of the state.
The youths under the aegis of
Asayi Chatra Chatri Parishad (aspirant students’ council) said several other states have increased the upper
age limit for government jobs, but Odisha is not taking any steps regarding this.
“Goa and Telangana have set the upper age limit at 45 and 44 respectively. Similarly, Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh have increased it to 42 years. Other states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Tripura, West Bengal and
Madhya Pradesh have set their age limit at 40 years. Our government should learn from them,” said Girija Sankar Jena, convener of the Parishad.
He said the state government does not come up with new jobs every year. Even government lingers the recruitment process for one to three years. “Candidates spend their time waiting for government jobs. After demonetization, several private companies have stopped hiring youths. It has added woes to the opportunity of the aspirants,” said an aspirant
Abinash Mishra.
The state government has increased the retirement age from 58 to 60 years. “If the government increases retirement age, why it becomes shy in increasing the upper age limit for new appointment,” he added.
"Around 2.6 lakh graduates are waiting for jobs after completing their education. If the government does not take any necessary steps regarding their demands, they will hit the streets on March 29 under the aegis of unemployed youths’ forum,” said the convener of the Parishad.
Finance minister
Shashi Bhushan Behera said the government will examine their demand. “We will go through the rules and guidelines, examine the demand and the practices being followed by other states,” he added.
A government officer said the government may consider some relaxation in the upper age limit of job seekers.
(Representative image)
