Desperation for a job sent Covid protocols for a toss in several districts of Assam where the government organised job fairs for the unemployed on Thursday.
For the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic, the state directorate of employment and craftsmen training is organising the job fair in collaboration with the Centre’s National Career Service Project.
On Thursday, the job fair was held in about 17 districts where over 10 companies on an average went to each district to recruit.
State government sources said in districts like Darrang, Nagaon, Dibrugarh and Bongaigaon, the footfall of jobseekers was huge. “Though there was an appeal to maintain Covid protocols, the rush was unexpected in many districts where crowd of over 5,000 aspirants turned up. There was no mechanism to know in advance how many job-seekers were going to come,” said a senior government official. As a large number of youths were rendered jobless during Covid, they have shown overwhelming response to the job fair that will continue to be held in phases in the rest of the districts till this year-end,” a source said.
Recruiters from diverse sectors like hospitality, automobile and healthcare were invited to take part. “Spot interviews are conducted and if candidates are more, the aspirants are shortlisted. We only invite genuine companies and that’s why selected youths won’t be deceived,” he said.
