Ranchi: The agitation against alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) entered its 13th day on Thursday, with growing support from student organisations across Jharkhand.
The protest, being held at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium, gained further momentum as representatives of several student groups joined the demonstrators, backing their demand for transparency and reforms in the state’s recruitment process.
Led primarily by JPSC aspirants, the movement has continued despite persistent overnight rain. Protesters remained at the venue through the night, insisting they would not end the agitation until the government addressed their concerns.
Student leader Devendra Mahto continued his indefinite hunger strike, while fellow aspirants stayed at the protest site despite adverse weather conditions.
The protesters said rain would not weaken their resolve and vowed to continue their campaign until concrete steps were taken to ensure fairness in recruitment examinations.
Speaking to IANS, one student alleged that corruption had become deeply rooted in the state’s education and recruitment system.
“Everyone knows corruption has taken over the education system. It has been happening for years. This is the land of Bhagwan Birsa Munda, yet such practices continue here. Those involved are allegedly accepting bribes to build houses, buy cars and accumulate wealth,” the student claimed.
The student further alleged that government jobs were being secured through bribery, claiming that candidates were forced to pay large sums to obtain recruitment posts. He also alleged that seats in the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examination were being sold for as much as Rs 25 lakh.
Another protester said the movement was aimed at restoring public confidence in Jharkhand’s examination system.
“We have joined this protest because the education system is in a terrible state. We want meaningful reforms, our demands to be heard by the government, and examinations in Jharkhand to be conducted without any paper leaks,” the student said.
Several participants also highlighted the hardships faced by aspirants from economically weaker families, saying government jobs represent one of the few avenues for financial security.
“Many of us come from poor families, and our parents make enormous sacrifices for our education and exam preparation. If recruitment processes are marred by irregularities, all that hard work becomes meaningless,” another student said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of protesting students was scheduled to meet representatives of the Jharkhand government later on Thursday. The discussions are expected to play a crucial role in determining whether the ongoing agitation moves towards a resolution.
With inputs from IANS