Former top cops from city police are eyeing the trend of overqualified candidates applying for constabulary as worrisome. Most of the applicants who apply for constable jobs are from the second tier and third tier cities of the state. These cities, they feel, have seen a spurt of many degrees and engineering colleges and educational institutions. However, with a dearth of corresponding jobs, the army of unemployed youth are applying for police jobs, they say.
"Soaring unemployment is commensurate with the deteriorating standard of education. As a result highly educated pass outs don't get jobs in the private sector. The job market is really tight and the employability of these graduates is really low. These graduates could have applied for gazetted posts. However, they know they are not capable for these jobs and hence apply for constable positions," opines MN Singh, former Police Commissioner.
Singh adds that the job of a constable is not attractive. The working hours are really long and one has to be alert round-the-clock. The job role is as varied as lifting a dead body and putting it in a hearse one day to arresting a criminal on another.
"It is not good for the constabulary to have such a highly qualified force. The MBAs and engineers will soon find the job demanding, demeaning and they will develop a complex and resort to indiscipline, " adds Singh.
There are others who feel that the chance to indulge in corruption as well the glamour of uniform compel many to apply for the position.
"Unemployment is not the sole reason. The glamour of the uniform and possibility to indulge in corruption too lure them. The greed and glamour is what gets them in the police service, " remarked YC Pawar, Joint Commissioner.
However, senior police officers who are currently in service are welcoming highly educated policemen in the force.
"We also need the candidates who are computer-literate as everything is digitized now and having more number of well-qualified candidates are also good for us, " said Santosh Rastogi, Joint Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Administration.
