Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Assembly, Debabrata Saikia, has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the establishment of a dedicated Regional Recruitment Centre in Guwahati to oversee recruitment for Central government offices, Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and public sector banks operating across the Northeastern region.
In his letter dated June 10, Saikia highlighted what he described as a growing unemployment challenge among the youth of the Northeast, particularly in Assam, and called for structural reforms in the recruitment process followed by central institutions and PSUs functioning in the region.
Citing findings from the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025, Saikia stated that Assam continues to trail national averages on several employment indicators. According to the figures mentioned in the letter, the state recorded an overall unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent compared to the national average of 3.1 per cent, while urban unemployment stood at 6.4 per cent against the national average of 4.8 per cent. Youth unemployment in the 15–29 age group was reported at 12.6 per cent, with urban youth unemployment reaching 20.6 per cent and urban female youth unemployment rising to 30.8 per cent.
The Congress leader argued that the existing recruitment framework followed by institutions such as the Railways, Border Security Force, Staff Selection Commission, public sector banks, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India places candidates from the Northeast at a disadvantage. He said most recruitment examinations and selection processes are conducted through centres located in metropolitan cities outside the region, forcing aspirants to bear significant travel and accommodation expenses.
According to Saikia, the absence of a dedicated regional recruitment mechanism has adversely affected employment opportunities for local youth and has resulted in vacancies in central government establishments and PSUs in the Northeast increasingly being filled by candidates from outside the region.
To address the issue, he proposed the creation of a Regional Recruitment Centre in Guwahati, citing the city’s connectivity, administrative infrastructure and strategic importance as the gateway to the Northeast. He urged the Centre to allocate ₹500 crore for setting up and operationalising the facility within six months.
Saikia also proposed a local recruitment policy under which 70 per cent of posts up to the Deputy Manager and Grade III levels in central government offices, PSUs and public sector banks located in the Northeast would be reserved for domiciled candidates from the eight Northeastern states. The remaining 30 per cent, he suggested, could remain open to candidates from across the country. For lower-tier administrative and support positions, he advocated complete local recruitment.
The senior Congress leader contended that such measures would be in line with constitutional provisions concerning residence-based employment requirements and the protection of the economic interests of indigenous and tribal communities.
Referring to the Centre’s development initiatives in the Northeast, Saikia appealed to the Prime Minister to personally intervene and address the employment concerns of the region’s youth. He said the proposed reforms would improve access to jobs, reduce regional disparities and enhance economic participation among young people across the Northeast.
