Mumbai: A recruitment drive by Air India for airport loaders caused a near-stampede at Mumbai airport yesterday, with over 25,000 applicants vying for 2,216 positions. Air India staff struggled to manage the overwhelming crowd, leading to chaotic scenes as applicants jostled for access to form counters. Many were left waiting for hours without food and water, causing some to feel unwell.
The role of airport loaders involves loading and unloading luggage on aircraft and operating baggage belts and ramp tractors. The salary ranges between ₹20,000 to ₹25,000 per month, with most earning over ₹30,000 including overtime. Basic educational qualifications and physical strength are the main requirements for the job.
Among the hopefuls was Prathameshwar from Buldhana district, who traveled over 400 km for the interview. “I have come to apply for the handyman position, offering ₹22,500 salary,” said Prathameshwar, a second-year BBA student. When asked if he would quit his studies for the job, he expressed his frustration with the high unemployment rate and urged the government to create more job opportunities.
Another applicant with a BA degree admitted he didn’t know much about the handyman role but needed the job. An MCom graduate from Rajasthan’s Alwar also applied, despite the basic education requirement, hoping for a good salary while preparing for government job exams.
This Mumbai incident comes days after a viral video showed hundreds of jobseekers pushing and shoving at a walk-in interview in Ankleshwar, Gujarat. Nearly 1,800 aspirants turned up for just 10 positions at a private firm, causing a railing to collapse under their weight. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries.
The viral video prompted Congress to criticize the BJP’s “Gujarat model” of unemployment. Local BJP MP Mansukh Vasava blamed the private firm for the Ankleshwar incident, calling for better criteria and organization in recruitment processes.
The Mumbai airport video has also led Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad to address the unemployment issue, highlighting the desperate situation for young job seekers over the past decade. She remarked that the scarcity of jobs has driven youngsters to extreme measures, even considering fighting in wars for other countries.
