Women candidates suffer more due to paper leaks, MPSC aspirant tells Rahul Gandhi
A young Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) aspirant on Saturday told Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that women candidates suffer more because of exam-related malpractices as they have a “deadline” and face pressures of marriage and family.
Speaking at the Congress’s youth outreach programme ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ here, she urged the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to support a group of students demanding cancellation and re-conduct of an examination following a question paper leak.
Sharayu Chopde, who introduced herself as a pharmacist and MPSC aspirant, said the examination was held on March 20-22, but students learnt that the paper had been leaked.
They approached MPSC officials and a complaint was filed, with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) now probing the case, she said. “We want a fair examination, because all the students here study day and night,” she said, adding that Pune is a hub of MPSC aspirants, as students from across Maharashtra come to the city to prepare for competitive examinations for Government jobs.
Paper leaks have a different impact on women students, because they already face pressure about marriage and family responsibilities, Chopde pointed out.
“When a paper is leaked, it affects girls differently from men because women have a deadline, while men don’t face the same deadline. Our entire careers can be at risk,” she said.
She also questioned why paper leaks were increasing, and alleged that people whose names had emerged in the case were absconding.
Several MPSC candidates who were attending the programme hoped that Gandhi would speak about their demand for re-examination, Chopde said.
“Please stand with us. Please support us. Something unfair has happened to us. Please do something. Our examination should be cancelled,” she told the Congress leader.
Gandhi said he would discuss the matter with the students, and asked them to explain the issue in detail and provide supporting material. Chopde said she would show him screenshots and other evidence of the alleged leak.
