Maharashtra: Job security lures many to become police constable

With rising unemployment and dearth of jobs, many engineers, graduates and post-graduates have applied for the post of a police constable in the state.

One needs to be Class 12 pass to qualify for the post. DNA spoke to few 'over qualified' police constables who are serving in the Mumbai police.

While some took up a police constable job for a job security, some for the benefits that it gives to the family.

Aditya Kadam (name changed), who holds a BA degree said that he worked as a ward boy before joining the police force in 2003. " Working with Mumbai police is not just a matter of prestige but it provides benefits like pension, job security and free housing among other things. I thought applying for the sub-inspectors departmental exam but I could not clear it," he said.

Rajesh Patil, another police constable, who is a B.Com graduate said that he taught in a private coaching class at Dadar. "I played kabbadi and had an offer to work as a sports teacher if I had done my Bachelor in Physical Education. I took up the constable's job because my father who too worked with the Mumbai police was due to retire in two years. My younger brother was completing his diploma in engineering. I had to shoulder the financial burden of my family. I did not want him to stop his education and take up a private job while studying. Hence, I decided to join the police force in 2004."

Patil added that one can get private employment but they do not provide any job security or pension after retirement. Patil has managed to save some money and buy his own house. He claims that many unemployed engineers and software experts have also applied for the police constable's post.