By Lt. Sanjeev Verma
On the evening of August 9, a poignant scene unfolded on the footpath outside Mumbai University Ground, just a short distance from the bustling Wankhede Stadium. A weary crowd of adults, accompanied by restless infants, gathered in anticipation. These grandparents and fathers had spent hours comforting and cajoling their children as they waited anxiously. Inside the synthetic turf of the ground, the mothers of these families were among the 1.11 lakh women from across Maharashtra vying for just 1,257 Mumbai Police constable posts, which offer a modest monthly salary of Rs 30,000.
The competition for these positions is a stark reflection of the growing unemployment crisis in the region. With only 36,214 constables currently serving in the Mumbai Police, of which 6,059 are women, the odds are daunting. The sheer number of applicants underscores the desperation for stable employment.
The Maharashtra Police received an overwhelming 17.76 lakh applications for over 17,471 constabulary posts this year. Alarmingly, more than 40 percent of these applications came from highly educated candidates, revealing the extent of underemployment and the lack of opportunities for qualified individuals.
According to data from the Maharashtra Police, the competition is fierce across the board. For 9,595 constable posts, 8,22,984 applications were submitted. The constable driver posts saw 1,98,300 applications for just 1,686 positions. Similarly, 1,800 prison constable posts attracted 3,72,354 applications, while 4,349 posts in the Rapid Action Force drew 3,50,592 applications.
This overwhelming response for a limited number of police constable positions is a glaring indicator of the unemployment crisis that continues to plague the region. The situation highlights the urgent need for more job opportunities and economic reforms to address the growing disparity between the number of job seekers and available positions.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
