Massive Rally of Jobseekers in Kolkata Demands Immediate Recruitment

A massive rally of jobseekers demanding immediate recruitment started from Sealdah and ended at Y Channel, Esplanade, in Kolkata, on Monday. Various organisations of jobseekers have repeatedly alleged recruitment in exchange for money, irregularities in merit lists and false promises to job aspirants.

Called by nine organisations of jobseekers, the rally demanded immediate recruitment to State Group D, nursing, Primary TET (2014), Class 11-12 of School Service Commission (SSC), Physical Education and Vocational Education, Group C, State Level Selection Test and Madrasa Service Commission.

The protesters, who raised the slogan ‘We want jobs for the deprived’, were supported by educationist Meeratun Nahar, professor Ambikesh Mohapatra, lawyer Kausthav Bagchi, social activist Binayak Sen, Padma Shri awardee teacher Kazi Masum Akhtar and several other prominent personalities.

Nahar told People’s Reporter that the “chief minister should do her duty and address the concerns of the deprived”.

Bagchi said that if the “government had the slightest shame, the chief minister [Mamata Banerjee] would have resigned by now. This is the shame of Bengal and the country”.

Rakesh Mondal, of North 24 Parganas, who qualified TET in 2014, said, “The state’s education system has been systematically destroyed; the unqualified are employed while the qualified are protesting. The chief minister is unaware of the consequences.”

Another jobseeker said, “We have been deprived of jobs for eight long years. The chief minister talks about everything except us. We demand that she talks to us.”

Jobseeker Sushant Kumar Mondal said, “Despite repeated promises, we have not been given jobs. We will continue to fight until we are recruited.”

Sushmita Ghorui, who participated in the rally, alleged that a “minister’s niece has been recruited despite her name not being on the merit list”. “We are fighting against it. We want jobs based on merit.”

Maidul Islam, representative of Jubo Chhatra Adhikar Manch (class 9-12), alleged that the “recruitment of incompetent candidates in exchange for money has been exposed. Candidates in the merit list published by the School Service Commission of 2016 of class 9-12 class were deprived of jobs due to corruption. They should be recruitment immediately”.

Similarly, Ashish Khamrai, representative of 2017 Group D Waiting Oikya Manch (State Group D); Aditi Mukherjee, representative of West Bengal Progressive Nursing Forum; and Manoj Pramanik, representative of 2014 Tate Paash Oikya Manch, demanded speedy recruitment.

Madrasa Service Commission Passed Candidates Manch representative Naveen Chandra Bera, SSC Group C and Group D Waiting Job Candidates Manch representative Prasenjit Das, 2014 TET Passed Non-Included Candidates Ekta Manch representative Achint Dhara and Yuva Chhatra Adhikar Manch (physical education and vocational education) representative Sheikh Sirajuddin too demanded immediate recruitment of jobseekers.