The article, “The world’s biggest exam” (“On the Other Hand” – ‘ColumnWidth’ page, August 26), supports the view that graduates seek lucrative government jobs because they are unprepared and need a safe job.
I do accept the fact that most of us are unprepared, but this alone is not the reason. Take the example of civil engineers, some of whom join private concerns as “site engineers”. They have to work for at least 15 hours and are paid a pittance. Even a reasonable request for a raise is frowned upon. So they are forced to look for something stable and a salary that is sufficient to meet their needs.
M. Vimalanathan,
Villupuram, Tamil Nadu
The staggering data that have been presented only prove an undeniable fact — that there is craze for government jobs, which assures, inter alia, job security, a fat salary, periodical hikes in pay and other benefits. Unless pay is based on performance and the government makes its staff accountable — as in the private sector — the craze for government jobs will continue unabated.
E.S. Chandrasekaran,
Chennai