Mangaluru : As many as 655 candidates out of 12,470 who attended the two-day Udyoga Mela since Thursday got assured jobs even as 3,200 candidates were shortlisted by various companies. In all, about 5,000 candidates are likely to get various jobs, according to the district administration. Though 16,695 candidates had registered for the event held at Canara Engineering College, Benjanapadavu near Bantwal, 12,470 made it a point to attend the mela. While 10,006 participated on day one, 2,464 attended it on Friday, the concluding day, said an official release.

In all, 223 firms and companies participated in the mela to select right candidates. While 165 completed recruitment process and offered jobs to 655 candidates and shortlisted 3,200 people, 58 firms have promised to finalise the process in a week, said the release.

Speaking at the valedictory, Minister for Urban Development and in-charge for Udupi district Vinay Kumar Sorake lauded the efforts by his Dakshina Kannada counterpart B. Ramanath Rai. Stating that though the undivided Dakshina Kannada district had the highest number of educated people, Mr. Sorake said unemployment prevailed there too. As such, he was planning to conduct one such mela in Udupi district shortly.

Mr. Rai said the response from companies as well as candidates for the mela was encouraging.

While more than one lakh students come out of various educational institutions in the district, getting right jobs had been a major challenge for them. The Mangaluru Udyoga Mela had provided succour to many of them, Mr. Rai said.