Campus Times | Lucknow

A special employment fair organized for persons with disabilities at Government Industrial Training Institute Aliganj saw limited participation after many candidates declined job opportunities located nearly 500 kilometres away from their homes for a monthly salary of ₹12,000–₹14,000.

The job fair was held on Thursday to create employment opportunities for differently-abled youth. A private company from Faridabad, Haryana, participated in the recruitment drive and offered positions in its manufacturing unit.

Despite the availability of jobs, only 20 candidates attended the fair, and 11 of them received job offers after interviews and assessments.

Distance and Low Pay Discourage Applicants

Many candidates expressed concerns about relocating so far for relatively low salaries.

Mahesh Kumar, a resident of Sarojini Nagar who has completed training in the Electronics trade from ITI, said he came to the fair hoping for an opportunity closer to home.

However, he noted that working in Faridabad would mean travelling nearly 500 km away from Lucknow, which would make living arrangements and daily expenses difficult to manage on a salary of ₹12,000–₹14,000 per month.

Another candidate, Prateek Yadav, echoed similar concerns. He said employment opportunities for differently-abled candidates would be far more beneficial if companies offered positions within Lucknow or nearby districts, reducing the challenges of relocation and travel.

Company Offers Basic Facilities

Aditya Shukla, a representative of the participating company, explained that the recruitment drive was exclusively organized for differently-abled candidates and aimed to fill 50 manufacturing positions.

He added that selected candidates would receive:

• Monthly salary between ₹12,000 and ₹14,000
• Attendance bonus
• Canteen facilities
• Free uniforms

The company also assured that employees would receive proper training and opportunities to gain experience in the automobile manufacturing sector.

Low Turnout Highlights Job Challenges

Despite efforts to create employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, the limited participation highlighted key challenges such as long-distance postings, modest salaries, and relocation costs. Experts say more local job opportunities and better pay could encourage greater participation and provide stable career options for differently-abled candidates.