BC and OC candidates demand reduction in qualifying marks like SC and STs in Village secretariat jobs

Amaravati: Demanding reduction of qualifying marks in Village Secretariat and Ward's jobs for Backward Classes (BC) students and for Open Category (OC) merit students, the aspirants who attended the examinations recently have staged a protest at the AP Secretariat at Velagapudi in Guntur district on Monday.

The aspirants stated that request government to consider the reduction of qualifying marks for the jobs that are vacant under Open and Backward Classes Categories. The youth of AP has kept many hopes on the present government to solve their unemployment problems which have been prevailing for many decades in the state, observed P Harish Reddy, who participated in the Dharna along with others.

"The government tried to fill 1.40 Lakh jobs under AP Grama Sachivalayam functionaries posts. We are happy for the reduction of minimum qualifying marks from 45 marks to zero marks for SC and ST aspirants of the state in AP Sachivalayam Jobs and this move ensures fair employment opportunities to the students of the state.", they observed.

At the same time, they demanded that "The OC and BC also request the government to reduce the minimum qualifying marks for OC from 40% to 30%, BC from 35% to 25% or suitable percentage for unfulfilled posts for both open Category and Backward Classes aspirants. So that the aspirations among these sections can be fulfilled and at the same time the proposed Secretariats can be fully functional in time. It is a benefit to sports, PH and ex-serviceman reservation aspirants also along with OC and BC Categories".

They also stated that non-inclusion of reservation benefits given for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) under Open Merit in this recruitment is another injustice done to the OC category unemployed youth. The number of persons under EWS reservation constitutes around 90% of the families in AP and 10% of Reservation given to them is a Constitutional right which is not followed in this recruitment, they informed.

The aspirants also gave representations to various ministers in the secretariat.

While reacting to this correspondent over a phone conversation, M Girija Sankar, Commissioner for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development stated that there is a provision for a reduction in the marks for the SC and ST community candidates but not for the other categories. He agreed that the aspirants have been asking the government to reduce the cut off marks for other than SC and ST candidates, but it is up to the higher authorities in the government to decide on it.