Pioneer News Service
Ranchi
Hundreds of students took to the streets in Ranchi on Thursday, protesting alleged irregularities and paper leaks in JPSC and JSSC examinations, delays in scholarships and several other issues concerning students.
The protest, organised under the banner of the AJSU Students’ Union, began from the Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium and proceeded towards Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan), where a heavy police deployment and barricades were put in place to prevent the protesters from moving further.
The protesters raised slogans against the alleged irregularities in the recruitment processes conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC). They alleged that a lack of transparency in competitive examinations was jeopardising the future of thousands of young aspirants.
The students demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged irregularities, stating that they were not satisfied with the ongoing CID investigation. They alleged large-scale irregularities in the JPSC preliminary examination and demanded that it be cancelled and conducted afresh through a transparent and impartial process.
The protesters also alleged irregularities in the teacher (Acharya) recruitment process, claiming that deserving candidates had been denied opportunities. They further demanded that the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) announce the date of the long-pending Jharkhand Teacher Eligibility Test (JTET) at the earliest.
Another major concern raised during the protest was the delay in the disbursement of scholarships. Students claimed that a large number of beneficiaries had not received scholarships for nearly two years.
The protesters also alleged that candidates were not being provided adequate access to answer sheets and marks in recruitment examinations. They said delays in conducting competitive examinations and a lack of transparency were contributing to unemployment and increasing mental stress among young people.
Accusing the state government of neglecting students’ concerns, the protesters warned that they would march towards and gherao the Jharkhand Assembly on August 10 if their demands were not addressed promptly.
The student leaders further warned that, if necessary, Jharkhand could witness a large-scale youth movement on the lines of the protests held at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
