Chhattisgarh D.Ed Candidates Gherao Education Minister’s Residence

RAIPUR | Desk: In a fresh escalation of their prolonged agitation, more than 400 D.Ed-qualified candidates, accompanied by family members, staged a protest outside the official residence of Chhattisgarh School Education Minister Gajendra Yadav in Raipur on Thursday morning. The protesters are demanding appointments to 2,300 vacant Assistant Teacher posts and an official announcement of the recruitment schedule.

The candidates, who arrived at the minister’s residence in the early hours, staged a sit-in protest and demanded that the government immediately announce a definite date for their appointments. They maintained that the agitation would continue until the government provided a clear assurance and announced the appointment schedule.

Angered by the prolonged delay in fulfilling their demand, the candidates entered the minister’s residential premises and staged a demonstration. Women and young children were also among those accompanying the protesters.

Police personnel subsequently intervened to remove the demonstrators. According to reports, several protesters were physically lifted, with some allegedly dragged towards waiting buses. They were later taken to the Tuta protest site in police vehicles.

Protesters Adopted Unusual Methods to Highlight Their Demands

This is not the first time D.Ed candidates have resorted to intense forms of protest to press for their appointments. In previous demonstrations, protesters had walked on their knees to draw the government's attention to their demands. On another occasion, some candidates allegedly attempted to stage a symbolic 'Jal Samadhi' in a pond behind the Tuta protest site.

Earlier demonstrations had also witnessed injuries among some protesters and the detention of several candidates by police.

The latest protest at the education minister's residence reflects the growing frustration among the candidates, who say repeated representations and demonstrations have failed to produce any concrete outcome.

321 Days of Agitation, Still No Appointment

The D.Ed candidates have been protesting for the past 321 days, demanding appointments to 2,300 Assistant Teacher posts. Despite their prolonged agitation, the recruitment issue remains unresolved, leaving the candidates increasingly frustrated and uncertain about their professional future.

The protesters argue that the vacant posts should have been filled in accordance with the relevant judicial directions. They claim that despite clear orders from both the Chhattisgarh High Court and the Supreme Court, the appointments have not been carried out.

They have repeatedly urged the state government to complete the appointment process without further delay.

What Is the Dispute About?

The dispute centres on the appointment of D.Ed-qualified candidates to 2,300 Assistant Teacher vacancies in Chhattisgarh. The candidates have been demanding that the government move forward with the recruitment process and provide appointments to eligible applicants.

They maintain that the matter has remained pending despite judicial intervention and that the continued delay has adversely affected hundreds of candidates who have been waiting for employment for an extended period.

For the protesters, the issue is not merely about securing government jobs but also about the uncertainty surrounding their careers and the financial difficulties faced by their families.

The protesting candidates have urged the state government to take an immediate and positive decision on filling all 2,300 posts. Their primary demand is a clear announcement of the appointment schedule, followed by the completion of the recruitment process within a stipulated timeframe.

They say that after 321 days of continuous agitation, they expect the government to respond with a concrete decision rather than assurances.

The candidates have also appealed to the education minister to personally intervene and resolve the issue. They insist that their demand concerns not only employment but also the future, dignity and self-respect of thousands of aspiring teachers and their families.

With Thursday's demonstration at the minister's residence, the standoff between the protesting candidates and the state government has intensified further. The candidates are awaiting a formal response from the government on their long-pending demand.