Jharkhand job aspirant continues hunger strike from ICU despite clearing exams
A government job has remained tantalisingly close yet frustratingly out of reach for Rahul Kranti. Now, even as he lies in an ICU after six days without food, the 40-year-old refuses to give up his fight.
Kranti is among six protesters on hunger strike over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand's recruitment process. He claims to have cleared several job examinations but is yet to get a job.
Kranti told PTI that he cracked the JSSC-Graduate Trained Teacher examination in 2016 but was not empanelled, and is still awaiting an appointment letter for the 2023 assistant teacher recruitment exam, which he alleged was because of corruption.
He has vowed to continue his fast until the state government agrees to cancel all state-level recruitment exams conducted by the Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) and the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission (JSSC) since 2019.
Kranti said he appeared in the 14th JPSC examination this year following an age relaxation ordered by the high court, calling it probably his last chance to appear in a government recruitment exam. But allegations of a paper leak and other exam irregularities, he said, have dashed his hopes.
A native of Palamu district, Kranti began his hunger strike at Jaipal Singh Munda Stadium on Tuesday night and was shifted to a hospital on the fourth day as his health deteriorated.
"Doctors say that I am suffering from viral fever. I was shifted here on Friday with high fever and headache. When my condition did not improve, doctors shifted me to the hospital," Kranti told PTI.
Kranti said his health condition was stable, though he felt weak. "Doctors are saying that my health will not improve until I take food. But I am determined to continue with my fast because the state government is not paying heed to our demands," he said.
He claimed that during talks between the government and the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch, which has been spearheading the demonstration, on Friday night, the government team indicated it could only agree to cancelling the 14th JPSC exam once the CID presents its probe report. This showed the government did not intend to resolve the issues, he alleged.
"Until the government agrees to cancel all state-level recruitment exams conducted by the JPSC and JSSC since 2019 and orders a probe by the CBI and ED, we will continue with this protest. I will remain on hunger strike, whether I am in the hospital or at the protest site," Kranti said.
"The government needs to initiate reforms in its recruitment system. The future of Jharkhand's youth will not be allowed to be sold," he said.
Dr. Nancy Priya, medical officer of Sadar Hospital, said Kranti has complained of weakness and has not taken any food yet. "He has viral fever and throat irritation. He is only taking water on our advice," she told PTI, adding that his blood pressure and sugar levels were being monitored. "He urgently needs to eat, and we are trying to persuade him. However, the decision ultimately rests with him."
Kranti is currently being administered a multi-vitamin infusion, the doctor said.
A fresh round of talks between the Jharkhand government and protesting students began Sunday, August 9.
The state government held discussions with the JPSC-JSSC Reforms Manch on Friday night, and on Saturday held four rounds of talks with different student groups, including the Congress' student wing NSUI, the Jharkhand Chhatra Morcha (JCM) and the Adivasi Chhatra Sangh (ACS). Since those meetings remained inconclusive, the government decided to hold a sixth round of talks with student representatives around noon Sunday, August 9.
(Inputs from PTI)
