Defying the Ban: Job Seekers Vow to March in Dharwad
In a bold move, job aspirants under the banners of Janasamanyara Vedike and Udyogakankshigala Horata Samiti have declared they will proceed with their planned protest rally in Dharwad on December 1, despite the local police department officially denying them permission. The groups are demanding that the government immediately begin the recruitment process for the thousands of vacant posts across various state and central departments, a situation they claim is pushing the youth towards desperation.
Police Concerns and Organizers' Resolve
The decision to deny permission was confirmed by a senior police officer, who cited significant disruptions caused by a previous rally. The officer explained that authorities had noticed the organizers' call for protest on social media, which included plans for a night-long demonstration intended to block key junctions. "During an earlier rally, traffic at Jubilee Circle in Dharwad was halted for nearly five hours, severely disrupting daily life," the officer recalled, highlighting the primary concern behind the police's stance.
However, Vedike convener Yallappa Hegade firmly rejected the police's reasoning. He argued that the profound uncertainty surrounding government recruitment has pushed the futures of lakhs of students into jeopardy, making the protest an essential action. "Around 25,000 youth will march from Shrinagar to the deputy commissioner's office on Monday," Hegade told reporters, confirming their unwavering commitment to the cause.
A Deep-Seated Crisis: The Vacancy Epidemic
The core of the protest lies in the staggering number of unfilled government positions. According to Hegade, a shocking 2.8 lakh posts remain vacant across 43 state government departments. This is compounded by the Union government having over 7.8 lakh vacancies. "Yet no major recruitment drives are being undertaken," Hegade lamented. He added a somber note, stating that the relentless pressure has led to several unemployed youth taking their own lives.
The rally aims to urgently press the government to announce a clear and actionable policy during the upcoming winter session of the state legislature to fill all these vacant posts. Beyond the main demand, the organizations have put forth a list of specific reforms to alleviate the plight of job seekers.
The key demands include:
- Raising the upper age limit for all government recruitment by five years.
- Resolving the ongoing confusion and disputes surrounding internal reservation policies.
- Setting up Indira Canteens specifically for job seekers to provide affordable food.
- Reducing the application fees for government job exams.
- Publishing an annual recruitment calendar to bring transparency and predictability to the process.
This protest highlights the growing frustration among India's educated youth, who see government jobs as a path to stable employment but face a system plagued by delays and a lack of clear communication, turning their aspirations into a battle on the streets.
