Opinion: Those who should be preparing now are on the streets, who will listen to these students?

New Delhi: The time for their study is fixed, they prepare tea only once and keep it in a thermos so that the time of preparing it again is saved. Eating is also done in one time. After all, when it comes to preparing for the toughest examination of the country and the state, no risk can be taken. Then what are those who do such hard penance doing on the streets of Prayagraj? They are protesting day and night. But neither UPPSC nor the government is paying any attention. O policy maker, O government, what is their fault? They are making a demand, at least someone would have listened to it. But who will listen, the policemen in civil dress are trying to remove them from there. The student movement which has shaken even the government of this country, today no one is even listening to the demands of those students. How will the government run like this?

Why are students not getting assurance?

The job of the government is to make arrangements and provide employment to the youth, but here neither arrangements are being made nor the youth are being heard. The youth of the country, who should cherish dreams of a bright future, are on the streets, protesting. The government system is trying to remove him/her from there. But how long will this continue? Why are the legitimate demands of the youth not being heard? Why is the government not ready to give them proper assurance? For how long will efforts to suppress the youth continue instead of listening to their thoughts? These are the questions to which students not only of Uttar Pradesh but of the entire country need answers.

Why are students protesting in Prayagraj?

At present, the protest in front of UPPSC in Prayagraj is in protest against the decision to conduct ‘PCS Pre’ and ‘RO ARO’ examinations in two days. The students demand that the examination should be conducted on one day and in a single shift. Thousands of students preparing for competitive examinations have gathered outside the Commission for three consecutive days. Students say that policemen in plain clothes reached the protest site and are trying to remove them from there. Protesting student Pratyush Singh said that the number of students today is less as compared to the last two days.

Commission is rotating students

The agitating students are raising slogans against Commission Chairman Sanjay Shrinet. Till now no assurance has been given by the Commission or the Government. The Commission issued a statement saying that from time to time, on the request of competitive students, the system/examination system has been improved keeping in view the needs of the changing times. Keeping in view the convenience of the candidates, an unprecedented decision was taken to remove optional subjects from the main examination of PCS. Similarly, the long standing demand of removing ‘scaling’ of candidates was fulfilled.

That is, the Commission is not saying anything on this issue; on the contrary, it is talking here and there and telling what it has done till now. Removed optional subject, agreed to scaling… etc, etc. Right now the main issue is of ‘one day one exam’, but UP Public Service Commission does not seem to have anything to say on this. The students sitting on dharna in front of the gate of the Commission were holding placards with different slogans in their hands, in which it was written ‘Will not divide, will not move, will remain united till we get justice’, while in others it was written, ‘One day, one examination’.

How long will we have to fight on the streets?

Lakhs of youth live away from their families in a small room, study day and night, so that they can become something. But now apart from searching for books, students also have to fight on the streets. They have to pass many examinations to get a job. They first demonstrate on the streets so that vacancies come. Then they protest so that the exam can be conducted, after that they protest together to conduct the exam, then for the result, after that they get a job after spending years in the courts. This has been happening for many years. Governments make promises and forget them after coming to power. Lakhs of students keep fighting for their rights on the streets in sunny, cold and rainy season, the future of India.