Jharkhand Students Continue Protests Amid Government Talks
Ongoing Protests by Jharkhand Students
Photo: @ians_india/X
Ranchi, Aug 8: After the second round of discussions between the Jharkhand government, led by the JMM, and representatives from the JPSC-JSSC Aspirant Nyay Manch, the student delegation expressed that the government has shown a willingness to consider their demands seriously.
Despite this, the protesting students, who have raised concerns over alleged discrepancies in the recruitment exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC), affirmed that their protests will persist until their requests are fully addressed.
Amit, a member of the delegation, stated, "We have communicated the struggles faced by Jharkhand's students to the government. One key demand we presented was for a compensation of Rs. 1 crore for aspirants who tragically lost their lives during the physical efficiency tests for the Jharkhand Excise Constable recruitment in 2024."
He emphasized, "Our agitation will continue until we reach a satisfactory resolution," as he spoke to reporters.
Referring to the government as a "guardian," he remarked, "We are the ones who voted them into power... The government has assured us that our demands will be taken into account, and we remain hopeful."
Chandan, another delegation member, described the meeting with the government as constructive. He mentioned, "We presented our demands backed by facts and evidence. Our colleagues had briefed us on the issues, and we detailed every point to the government. They acknowledged our concerns and promised to discuss them with the Chief Minister soon, indicating that action would be taken promptly."
He reiterated, "We will maintain our protests until our demands are fulfilled, and those on hunger strike will continue their fast. The government needs to clarify when our demands will be addressed."
Chandan also highlighted that their demands include the cancellation of examinations conducted by the TDPL agency, for which results are still pending.
"We have requested that a reputable agency like TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) be entrusted with the examination process, or that the Commission handle it directly. The government must stop jeopardizing students' futures by assigning exam responsibilities to discredited companies," he added.
Ravishankar, part of the eight-member delegation, noted that the government allotted them ample time to voice their concerns.
He reiterated that their demands encompass the cancellation of TDPL-conducted exams and expedited re-appointments for candidates.
"A CBI investigation should be initiated into the JSSC CGL exam, and if any irregularities are discovered, it should be annulled immediately... Additionally, compensation should be provided for those who died during the running trials for the Jharkhand Excise Constable recruitment," he stated, among other requests.
Ravishankar also mentioned that the government has taken their demands into serious consideration.
Dinabandhu Mandal added, "We also insisted that for all cancelled examinations, all vacancies should be filled within six months, and a merit list of candidates should be published."
"From our discussions, it appears that the government is genuinely considering our demands, and we hope for action soon, but until then, our protests will continue," he concluded.