By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Veteran Congress leader 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 across the Northeastern region.
In a letter dated June 10, Saikia cited rising unemployment among the youth in the Northeast, particularly in Assam, and called for reforms in the recruitment process for central government institutions and PSUs operating in the region.
Referring to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) Annual Report 2025, Saikia said Assam’s overall unemployment rate stood at 3.7 per cent, compared to the national average of 3.1 per cent. Urban unemployment in the state was reported at 6.4 per cent against the national average of 4.8 per cent, while youth unemployment in the 15–29 age group stood at 12.6 per cent. Urban youth unemployment was 20.6 per cent, rising to 30.8 per cent among young women, according to the figures cited in the letter.
Saikia argued that recruitment examinations conducted by agencies such as the Railways, Border Security Force, Staff Selection Commission, public sector banks, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India are largely centred outside the Northeast, forcing candidates from the region to incur significant travel and accommodation expenses.
According to him, absence of a regional recruitment framework has limited employment opportunities for local aspirants, alleging that posts in central government establishments and PSUs in the Northeast are being increasingly filled by candidates from other parts of the country.
To address the issue, Saikia proposed the creation of a Regional Recruitment Centre in Guwahati, citing the city’s connectivity and administrative infrastructure. He also urged the Centre to allocate Rs 500 crore for establishing and operationalising the facility within six months.
The Congress leader additionally proposed a local recruitment policy under which 70 per cent of positions up to the Deputy Manager and Grade III levels in central government offices, PSUs and public sector banks in the Northeast would be reserved for domiciled candidates from the region. The remaining 30 per cent, he suggested, could remain open to applicants from across the country.
Saikia said the proposed measures would improve access to employment opportunities for Northeastern youth, reduce regional disparities and strengthen local participation in the region’s economy.