Indian student leader ends hunger strike after 16 days
Devendra Nath Mahto was part of a larger protest which began weeks ago, demanding exam reforms in Jharkhand state.
A 16-day hunger strike by an Indian student leader in Jharkhand state has concluded, following the government's agreement to cancel a controversial recruitment exam. Activist Devendra Nath Mahto ended the fast in a Ranchi hospital, where he was admitted due to declining health. The protests began on July 25th, with job-seekers and students alleging irregularities in government recruitment exams and demanding reforms.
Government jobs are highly coveted in India as they provide stability and security. However, concerns persist about malpractices in these exams, including leaked question papers and unfair means used by candidates. In Jharkhand, the protests were triggered by suspicions regarding the last month's civil service exam results. The state government initially agreed to cancel the preliminary exam and promised an investigation by the state's Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Despite this, protesters demanded an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into alleged malpractices in other recruitment exams. On Monday, Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced that the JSSC-CGL exam would also be canceled, along with exams conducted by a private agency. A probe into recruitment exams since 2014 is also underway.
The government has set up a committee to recommend reforms to the examination system. While celebrations erupted among protesters, some vowed to continue their demonstration until the CBI investigation begins.
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