The incidents on the streets of Ranchi on August 10th have shaken people. Such an attack on youth preparing to become government officials not only questions their qualifications but also deepens the risks prevalent among youth and recruitment exams in the future.
The protesters clearly allege that the police brutally baton-charged them at night, resulting in several students being seriously injured.
This situation is not just one person's story; it is the reality of millions of young people living in Ranchi who aspired to become officers but ended up as protesters. Despite passing GATE, filling forms for Assistant Engineer, and applying for Sub-Inspector, they have received no appointments.
"Let me die..." This sentence does not belong to someone giving up on life, but rather expresses the deep anxiety of the youth wandering the streets of Jharkhand in search of jobs. Interviews with such youth are being broadcast on social media who possess a BTech degree and GATE success, yet have not secured a single job. Even a father participated in the protest for his two daughters.
People are astonished by the number of filled forms of Mahendra Prasad, who participated in the demonstration. Through this protest, he is questioning the government about the future of both his daughters. In videos going viral on social media, Mahendra Prasad stated that he has obtained a BTech education and passed GATE in the first attempt. Additionally, he had applied for the post of Assistant Officer in 2015.
He had applied for both the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission and the Jharkhand Energy Department, and had also filled the form for the JEE examination. He had also applied for recruitment for the post of Jailer (Kaksha Pal). He says that the vacancy from 2015 has not yet been filled. However, he got married in 2017 and now has two daughters.
He further said that he is participating in the protest for his family. He also said that if his father does not get a job and his daughter does not get one, at least his daughters should get jobs. He expressed concern about what will happen in the future if these people do not get jobs, and whose responsibility it will be. He also said that if his death leads to good vacancies or fair examinations for the youth of Jharkhand, then let him die; otherwise, if jobs are sold for 20 to 25 lakh, then let him die.
It is noteworthy that the anger of students and job seekers regarding alleged irregularities in government recruitment exams in Jharkhand is continuously rising. Questions are being raised about the JPSC and JSSC examinations. Thousands of students have taken to the streets, and the agitation intensified after marching towards the assembly on August 10th. Despite police action, detention, and talks with the government, the students' resentment is not subsiding.
However, perhaps understanding this movement solely as a dispute over exam malpractice or recruitment process is not the whole truth. Behind it are many years of youth who searched for their future amidst books. Their families have hopes, parents have savings, and they dream of a job that they consider the path to stability in their lives.
