New Delhi: The Congress’ youth wing and the Delhi unit organised a job fair at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium here Thursday to mark their leader Rahul Gandhi’s 55th birthday, and to underline the issue of unemployment in the country.
The event saw an overwhelming response, with more than 20,000 people of different age groups registering to participate, Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president Yadav told a press conference here.
At least 100 companies, including well-known names like Amazon, Tata, Zepto and Blinkit, participated in the job fair with the aim of recruiting candidates from various educational backgrounds, from 12th pass students to PhD-holders, he said.
More companies wanted to participate but they could not due to space constraints, he said. “Those who couldn’t be accommodated today will be engaged in future events.”
He described the job fair as a significant step by the Congress in response to the “failure” of both the Centre and the Delhi government to provide employment opportunities.
“There was a time when youths used to come to Delhi for jobs. Now, Delhi’s youths are facing the worst unemployment crisis in 45 years,” Yadav said.
The job fair organised by the DPCC and the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) appeared to be a political intervention by Gandhi who has over the years repeatedly highlighted the issue of job scarcity across the country. With the Congress looking to regain organisational strength in the capital, the employment fair served both as outreach and mobilisation.
Aspirants reached the venue as early as 8 am to be among the first ones to be sitting for the interviews with big companies. As the day progressed, the venue got overcrowded with candidates waiting in long queues to get their token numbers to be called in.
Mania Tandon, a final-year BSc student from Delhi University’s Janki Devi Memorial College, said she came with high hopes after seeing the names of the companies.
“I turned up around 11 am and my token number is 5,395. Right now, only people till token number 1,000 have been called. I’m truly disappointed because it’s overcrowded, and it doesn’t seem I’ll get a job here,” she told ThePrint.
Tandon, however, appreciated the Congress’ attempt and said there is a need for similar effort on a bigger scale. “Given the population and the desperation for jobs, this was bound to happen. It feels weird seeing so many people in the same boat.”
Mohammad Sohrab, who is from north Delhi’s Narela and has completed 12th grade, said, “My token number is 2,483. The announcements are only up to 1,000. The arrangements are not great, but we will still wait. This is the first time any party has done something like this. Other parties are busy with Hindu-Muslim debates. I want a regular salary, and a stable job. That’s it.”
Lauding Gandhi’s effort, Sohrab said he wants to witness the day when Gandhi becomes the prime minister.
Manoj Kumar, a grassroots Congress worker, told ThePrint around 100 youths had come through his mobilisation efforts. “There is so much unemployment. This fair, on Rahul Gandhi’s birthday, gives people a real chance. Some are getting interviewed and even hired right here.”
Meanwhile, Tandon said, “Everyone here is just trying their luck. And honestly, when I see this crowd, it makes me realise how hard things really are.”
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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