Following ongoing protests by students in India’s Jharkhand state, the state government announced on August 17 the cancellation of the state public service recruitment exam for graduates and all recruitment tests conducted by an outsourced agency, TDPL, in the past 12 years.
The government also announced an investigation into corruption and irregularities in all recruitment examinations conducted in the state since 2014.
Members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation (CPIML) have been prominent in the struggle against corruption in the education system in India, and played a significant role in the movement in Jharkhand and recent protests in Delhi that resulted in the resignation of the country’s education minister.
The CPIML’s publication ML Update reported: “The student movement [in Jharkhand] began on July 25, following the declaration of the preliminary results of the public service exam. Thousands of students and job aspirants gathered at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium in Ranchi, raising their demands against irregularities and lack of transparency in the recruitment process.
“The protest was sustained through determined forms of struggle, including a 16-day-long hunger strike by various youth leaders, which further intensified pressure on the government and highlighted the seriousness of the demands raised by students and job aspirants.”
The All India Students Association, Revolutionary Youth Association and other left and progressive student and youth groups organised a massive demonstration, on August 7, near the Jharkhand Assembly, ML Update reported.
“Another massive march was held on August 10, when thousands of students and job aspirants marched through Ranchi towards the Jharkhand Assembly. The protesting youth were met with brutal police violence, including a massive lathi [baton]-charge near the Jharkhand Assembly on the evening of August 10.”
CPIML Jharkhand State Secretary Manoj Bhakt said activists continuously pressured the government to ensure transparency and fairness in the state examination system. Bhakt demanded that the government immediately issue requisitions for new posts within the state public service and release recruitment notifications without further delay.
Bhakt said the government must listen to the questions being raised from schools across Jharkhand about issues of drinking water, clean toilets, playgrounds and the shortage of teachers, which continue to affect students. The entire education system, from primary education to higher education, needs urgent repair and restructuring.
Bakht said “The Modi government must understand that the taxes collected from Jharkhand cannot be meant only for the benefit of Adani and Ambani. They must also serve the people of Jharkhand by ensuring education, employment and a better public system.
“The education system in Jharkhand is in a state of deep crisis and the government must take full responsibility for correcting it. Students must be guaranteed quality education, dignified opportunities, a transparent system and dignified employment.”