Educated vie to sweep Chandigarh

Such seems to be the craze for government jobs that even post-graduates and graduates are not averse to the idea of wielding a broom in City Beautiful.

Of the 14,000 applications for 319 regular posts of sweeper in the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, 30 are postgraduates and 210 graduates. While four applicants hold BTech degrees, 70 are diploma holders from ITI.

If selected, they will draw a salary of Rs 14,000.

The minimum qualification for a sweeper's post is Class 8 with the age limit of 18 to 25 (general), 18 to 28 (OBC), 18 to 30 (SC) and 18 to 35 (disabled). Most of the students have done their post-graduation and graduation from Panjab University.

The candidates have to pass a physical test (race for 800 metres). While males have to complete the race in 3 minutes 20 seconds, female candidates have to complete it in 4 minutes 40 seconds.

A candidate with a Masters in history from Panjab University told HT, "My family is passing through financial crisis, so I decided to apply for this job."