3 weeks ago
Kerala LPST rank holders eat grass in 34-day protest
Some people in Kerala passed a very hard test to become teachers.
They studied really hard and their names were placed on a special list of people who should get teaching jobs.
But the government has not given them their official job letters yet.
So the teachers decided to protest.
They have been standing outside the state's main government office for more than 34 days.
To show how sad and upset they feel, they even ate a little bit of grass one day.
People do not normally eat grass, so this was a symbol of how badly they feel they are being treated.
The protesters say the government keeps ignoring them, even after asking for two more months to fix things.
At the same time, the police are investigating whether the teaching test was fair.
The teachers hope the government will act soon so they can finally start their jobs.
LPST rank holders symbolically ate grass outside the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday to protest the delay in issuing appointment orders.
The agitation has crossed 34 days, with one report describing it as the 35th day of the protest.
Candidates who cleared the Keralam PSC rank list say they are waiting indefinitely without formal placement.
A protester said the government asked for two months but has given no good news and is trying to avoid them despite several forms of protest.
The delay is linked to alleged irregularities in the Kerala PSC examination for Chief-level posts in the State Planning Board, now being probed by a Crime Branch SIT headed by Inspector General S Ajeetha Begum.
- Who
- Lower Primary School Teacher (LPST) rank holders who cleared the Keralam Public Service Commission rank list, and the Kerala government.
- What
- A symbolic protest involving eating grass over the delay in issuing appointment orders.
- Where
- Outside the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram.
- When
- Saturday, reported as the 34th day of the protest by protesters and one article, and as the 35th day by another.
- Why
- The government has not issued appointment orders despite reportedly asking for two months; the case is linked to alleged irregularities in the Keralam PSC examination evaluation.
Protesters
Kerala Government
Timeline for appointment orders
Protesters
LPST rank holders demand immediate appointment orders after clearing the PSC rank list and reject the need for a two-month wait, saying the government has given no good news and is avoiding them despite repeated protests.
Kerala Government
The government reportedly asked for two months to settle the matter and has ordered an investigation into alleged Kerala PSC examination irregularities, which the articles link to the case.
Cause of the delay
Protesters
Rank holders say the government is not taking any action and keeps ignoring them despite several forms of protest.
Kerala Government
The government is conducting a comprehensive enquiry by the Crime Branch into alleged irregularities in PSC examinations before moving ahead.
Key facts
- Protesters
- LPST (Lower Primary School Teacher) rank holders who cleared the Kerala PSC rank list
- Protest duration
- More than 34 days (one report says the 35th day)
- Location
- Outside the Keralam Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram
- Protest action
- Symbolically ate grass
- Government ask
- Two months, according to a protesting rank holder
- Related case
- Alleged irregularities in the Kerala PSC examination for Chief-level posts in the State Planning Board
- Investigating agency
- Crime Branch, ordered by the Kerala Home Department
- Investigation lead
- SIT chaired by Inspector General of Police S Ajeetha Begum, formed in July
Quotes
LPST rank holder protester
LPST rank holder participating in the protest
“We are LPST rank holders. We have been protesting for 34 days. There is no good news from the government. They asked for two months. I don't know why they need two months. We are trying different protests, but there has been no response.”
wionews.com
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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