Kolkata, 18 December (H.S.) : Job aspirants linked to the School Service Commission recruitment process staged an unusual protest on the streets of Kolkata on Thursday, carrying tea kettles, puffed rice and snacks. The symbolic demonstration came a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s remark suggesting self-employment options such as selling tea or snacks, which triggered sharp reactions among unemployed candidates.

Protesters said the display was meant to highlight their frustration and helplessness after being deprived of government jobs. “When there is no job, we are left with no option but to come out on the streets,” one of the aspirants said.

Two separate rallies were taken out in the city. The first was held outside Bikash Bhavan in Salt Lake by visually impaired and differently-abled candidates. They alleged that they were deliberately denied jobs to which they were entitled. The protesters demanded reinstatement to the same posts they had earlier held and sought a meeting with the education minister. When no meeting materialised, they continued their demonstration outside the government building.

The second rally comprised fresh SSC candidates who had appeared for the examination for the first time and had never been employed earlier. They alleged that ineligible candidates from earlier batches were given undue advantage, depriving them of their rightful jobs. The protesters demanded an increase in the number of vacant posts and accused the authorities of unfair recruitment practices. Many among this group carried tea kettles, puffed rice and snacks as a direct response to the Chief Minister’s statement.

On Wednesday, while addressing a traders’ conference at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Mamata Banerjee had spoken about the importance of small and cottage industries and said no work should be considered inferior. She had remarked that if necessary, people could earn a living by selling tea or ghugni, and referred to the Prime Minister’s past as a tea seller while urging people not to lose hope.

During Thursday’s rally, several aspirants took a sarcastic swipe at the Chief Minister’s comment. Holding a tea kettle, one protester said that when the government itself advises selling tea and snacks, they are being forced to adopt the same path. He alleged that jobs meant for deserving candidates had been “sold” and warned that the future of educated youth was becoming increasingly uncertain.

Another aspirant claimed that awarding an additional 10 marks for experience had severely affected fresh candidates. He said that despite waiting for nearly 10 years to secure a job through SSC, he remained unemployed and was now left holding tea and snacks as symbols of broken aspirations.

The rally, which marched from Sealdah to Dharmatala, also raised the demand for the creation of at least 100,000 additional vacant posts. Protesters alleged that corruption and flawed policies had pushed qualified candidates into unemployment, and said the symbolic protest reflected their growing despair.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh