Telangana Unemployment Crisis: Students Demand Government Action, Students and Unemployed youth protest at TGPSC office on 5 July 2024.
Protest at Telangana State Public Service Commission
Members of the Students and Unemployment Federation staged a protest at the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) office on Monday. They demanded the release of job notifications to fill two lakh vacant positions in the state. The protesters criticized the Congress party for making unfulfilled promises. During the election campaign, Congress had assured that, if elected, they would address unemployment issues. However, these concerns remain unresolved. The protesters also demanded that the selection ratio for the Group-I Main exam be adjusted to 1:100 instead of 1:50. Given the Group-I notification was issued after a decade-long gap, aspirants believe they deserve a fair chance in the recruitment process for the 563 Group-I posts.
“The state government should release notifications for all jobs, fill two lakh jobs this year, and cancel GO 46 immediately. An unemployment allowance of Rs 4,000 should be provided, and Group exams should be conducted in December,” said Kompelli Raju, State President of the Student and Unemployed Federation.
Increased Activism Among Student Unions in Telangana
Student unions in Telangana have become increasingly active, staging at least a dozen protests near education department offices and the TSPSC. They are pressing the government to address various issues in the education sector. Concerns include fee regulation, infrastructure improvements in public schools, and the re-conducting of NEET 2024.
Since the academic year began, the rising cost of school education has been a major point of contention among student organizations such as ABVP, SFI, BRSV, and AISF, regardless of their ideologies. Without fee regulation, private school and junior college fees have skyrocketed, with some corporate schools charging Rs. 2-3 lakh for LKG students.
Demands for Fee Regulation and Improved Infrastructure
Student leaders recently protested at the Directorate of School Education, demanding immediate implementation of school fee regulation and better basic amenities in government-run schools. In addition to fee regulation in corporate junior colleges, student unions are advocating for the filling of vacant teaching and non-teaching posts in government junior colleges and the provision of mid-day meals to students.
NEET 2024 Controversy and Its Impact
This year, student activism has reached new heights due to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG and National Eligibility Test (NET) 2024 question paper leakage issue. Student unions, including the BRSV, are demanding that the Central government scrap NEET 2024. The BRSV recently held a massive protest at Raj Bhavan with this demand. Additionally, 11 student unions called for a bandh of educational institutions, further intensifying their protests.
Solidarity with Unemployed Youth
Beyond education sector issues, student unions have extended their support to the ongoing protests by unemployed youth. These youth demand that the Congress government honor its poll promises. Several unions, including the ABVP, have already protested at the TSPSC.
Call for Protest by Unemployed Youth
On Friday, unemployed youth escalated their protest by calling for a demonstration at the TSPSC. They plan to besiege the Commission, demanding that the Congress government fulfill the assurances given during the assembly elections. On Thursday, some unemployed youth personally reached out to government job aspirants in libraries, study halls, and coaching centers in the city, seeking support for the protest.
The unemployed youth are demanding that the Congress government select candidates for the Group-I Main exam in a 1:100 ratio instead of 1:50, increase Group-II and Group-III posts, and defer the exams until December. They also want the government to withdraw GO 46.
Conclusion: A Call for Government Accountability
The increasing protests by student unions and unemployed youth in Telangana highlight the urgent need for government action. The demands for job notifications, fee regulation, improved educational infrastructure, and fair recruitment processes are not just about addressing unemployment but also about ensuring a fair and just system for all. The state government must listen to these voices and take concrete steps to address their concerns.
