SFI, ABVP slam Himachal govt’s job trainee scheme, seek immediate rollback

Student organisations — the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — have strongly criticised the state government’s newly introduced job trainee scheme, calling it anti-youth and demanding its immediate withdrawal.

In a press statement issued on Monday, the SFI state committee said nearly three years have passed since the Congress government came to power, yet it has failed to fulfill its election promise of creating two lakh jobs annually. SFI state president Anil Thakur accused the government of instead “dismantling the few remaining employment opportunities” through the new trainee policy.

“The future of lakhs of youth in the state is being put at risk. Earlier, the BJP government introduced outsourcing and contractual hiring and now the Congress is taking a similar route with this scheme. Youth preparing for competitive exams and striving for job security are now seeing their hopes dashed,” Thakur said.

Echoing similar sentiments, ABVP Himachal Pradesh state secretary Nancy Atal said in a statement that the government had pledged to provide one lakh government jobs before coming to power but is now “betraying the trust of the youth” by offering temporary training roles instead of permanent appointments.

Under the job trainee scheme, candidates will be employed as trainees for two years without regular employee status. During this period, they will not be eligible for Central Civil Services (CCS), Central Secretariat Services (CSS), leave or pension benefits. Even after completing two years, they must clear another examination to qualify for regularisation.

“This policy is not only unjust but also an attack on the dignity and self-respect of the youth,” said Atal. “It does not serve the interests of young job seekers or the long-term development of the state. Instead, it is likely to create frustration and unrest.”