Public Service Commission (PSC) rank holders for the position of Civil Police Constable (CPO) in Kerala have temporarily halted their agitation against the state government’s alleged inaction in appointing them before their rank list expired on April 12.
The rank holders, who have been protesting in front of the Secretariat for the past 62 days, accuse the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of reneging on its promise and treating them as persona non grata. They lament the lack of support from the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), typically known for its activism.
Out of the 13,975 candidates listed, only 4,436 have been appointed, leaving 68% of candidates without jobs. The expiration of the list dashed the hopes of thousands of aspirants, prompting various forms of protest including symbolic demonstrations like eating raw grass, shaving heads, and staging hunger strikes. Tensions escalated when protesters attempted to siege the secretariat road.
The aggrieved candidates claim they were cheated by the government and demand an explanation from Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. While the Kerala Public Service Commission (Kerala PSC) maintains that the decision lies with the government, two candidates resorted to attempted self-immolation.
Amidst mounting frustrations over the Kerala government’s failure to appoint Civil Police Constable (CPO) rank holders, public sentiment is turning increasingly critical. Many residents believe that the government’s financial constraints are to blame, as evidenced by its struggles to meet various financial obligations.
There is widespread perception that while the government claims it lacks funds to pay wages and pensions, backdoor appointments for politically affiliated candidates continue unchecked. Meanwhile, appointments to coveted positions proceed unhindered, further exacerbating the sense of injustice among the aggrieved CPO candidates.
With their age rendering them ineligible to reapply for the positions, the disillusioned candidates see little hope for redressal. In response, they are contemplating taking action during the upcoming parliamentary elections, viewing it as an opportunity to voice their grievances against the administration’s perceived neglect and mistreatment.
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