The Jharkhand government is preparing to hold crucial discussions with a second group of protesting job aspirants led by Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) leader Devendra Nath Mahto. The meeting is to take place at the Circuit House, when the widespread movement over alleged irregularities in the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) recruitment exams officially enters its 15th day.
As we were getting ready for the talks, leader Devendra Nath Mahto had already made very clear that all the student demands of the participating groups must remain unchanged, whatever group meets with government representatives. Mahto said the team attended the dialogue at the Circuit House because the previous meeting never brought any concrete solutions. “There is a need for dialogue and pressure,” he said.
This development comes close to the first round of talks between a 10-member delegation from the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch and a designated government panel which was headed by Higher and Technical Education Minister Sudivya Kumar. Unfortunately, those initial talks failed to break the impasse and the protesting students decided not to stop their protests and hunger strike as their main complaint (i.e., the cancellation of the 14th JPSC exam) is to be addressed. Most importantly, Mahto has continued his hunger strike for 7 days.
After the previous negotiations, a representative of the JPSC/JSSC Reforms Manch said that even though the meeting was positive and that the government offered sympathy to them, they decided that they would continue their protest until all their demands are met.
The major demands of the student movement are several. The protesting students are demanding an immediate suspension of the 14th Jharkhand Public Service Commission examination. Also, they want an independent investigation of the purported irregularities (Central Bureau of Investigation or by an outside body of retired high court judges from outside the state). In addition to these points, the student groups are also calling for structural reform of JPSC and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission and for a transparent and equitable recruitment process in future recruitment as well.
Government officials have been in public speaking with concern for the situation. Minister Sudivya Kumar announced to fellow government officials that the administration had met with students and their delegation to discuss the situation and officials are aware that the students' demands are very much in their best interests and will respond to their concerns and will be able to respond to them sympathetically and we will be able to find the solution soon. Minister Dipika Pandey Singh also said in a statement that all student demands were formally communicated to Chief Minister Hemant Soren and that the Chief Minister has expressed his concern for the students' welfare and there will be a solution and all students are very happy with the students’ situation.
Though political discussions continue and protests continue, the protesting students have set a firm ultimatum. They said they will launch their much-publicized Vidhan Sabha march if the government will not meet their demands. Meanwhile, other political and student mobilization is spreading across the region and organizations like Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad even announced their own independent march to protest the continuing irregularities in regional recruitment.
