At present, there are only 450 candidates with degrees in engineering and technology, who have registered themselves for jobs. On the other hand, the candidates with qualifications in the fields of business management, IT or medicine.

The data available with the district employment exchange also includes that of the employment cells in Khanna and Samrala. There are hardly any candidates with an engineering degree who have got placed through the exchange in the last many years. The candidates with other qualifications who had registered themselves with the exchange have also been awaiting their turn for over a decade now.

Kamla Rani, Assistant Employment Officer, meanwhile, reveals that the number of candidates who got jobs through the Employment Exchange rose from 1,001 in 2006 to 1,438 in 2007 (as on November 30).

Most of the candidates in the register as on November 30, are matriculates, their number standing at 11,668. The second highest are those who have passed Class XII, with their numbers at 8,911. In the teachers’ category, there are 3,874 candidates waiting for the jobs through the Employment Exchange. In addition, 2,242 graduates have registered themselves with the Exchange, and 1,924 ITI diploma holders.

“Why would I get myself registered with the exchange. It is worthless. My friend, who has a professional degree, registered himself five years ago but nothing came out of it. So I have little faith in this system of providing jobs,” remarked Ramninder, a resident of Millerganj, who is pursuing a professional course from Panjab University, Chandigarh.

Said another candidate from the city, “The mechanism adopted by these cells is not capable of providing good job opportunities. Rather than going for it, I would look for plenty of job opportunities on the websites on the Internet which is more convenient and effective.”