AGARTALA, March 7 (TIWN): After 48 hrs of demonstration, the unemployed youths sat before North Gate (Astabol) started hunger strike as nobody came to meet them to listen their appeals. The unemployed youths under Agriculture and horticulture dept. just wanted some recruitment advertisements so that some vacancies filled up. But neither the Agriculture Dept Minister nor anybody came to met them. The youths informed TIWN office at 11 PM, Friday that they have sat in hunger strike since 6 PM, although SDM and police trying to push them from there. The demonstration, staging infront of Astabol Stadium began on 6th April where the unemployed youths demanded to fill up the vacancies as fast as possible under Agriculture Dept. The unemployed youths requested the CM to take action within 48 hrs but as no action has been taken thus the students have sat in hunger strike. Reportedly, since long 7 years no recruitment was done in TAFS Gr-I (Agri-Officer) post, whereas out of 383 posts 237 posts are left vacant. Moreover, in Central projected Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) also not a single post has been filled up.

Amidst the fund releasing by Centre : State as 90 : 10, total 250 posts are still vacant. Apart from that under KVK, AICRP (PP) many posts are also vacant.

According to the unemployed youths, since 2012 these issues are raising by them and total 3 times they met Tripura CM Manik Sarkar and requested him to sort out the problem. Other Ministers were also informed via letters but although CM gave words look after the issue but after passing 5 years without any solution, the youths have come in massive protests.

Earlier, in 2016 1st Oct, in 2017 9th March deputation was placed before Director of Agriculture. The youths further mentioned in their press release, "Even though 5 times the Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma was given letters but the Ministers didn't feel it necessary to meet them for 5 minutes".

The Dept. of Agriculture in 2016 via an advertisement noticed to fill up 50 posts but with the order of the High Court TPSC (Advt. 06/2016) the recruitment process was stopped as High Court found the  advertisement was not valid as per recruitment laws.

Apart from that since 1999 and before that also all the Agri-Officers recruitment were invalid and the unemployed youths to file case in High Court soon.

The unemployed youths further demanded that the 50 posts must be filled up by following High Court's order with more posts. They also mentioned that many unemployed youths are becoming over aged including P.hd holders, whereas since 7 years no recruitment was done in this dept.

Tensions have erupted at North Gate zone with the hunger strike begins at Astabol.