AGARTALA, April 8 (TIWN): A group of unemployed youths led by 17 members of Agriculture & Horticulture passed out students in Tripura have sat on hunger strike on Friday 6 PM following 'no response' from state govt in their 48 hrs demonstration since April-6. Talking to the strikers on spot at Astabol (before North Gate) they told TIWN that only Education Director D P Sarkar has visited them but the strike will not be withdrawn till their demands are fulfilled. On the other hand D P Sarkar told them that the recruitment process needs some time, but the unemployed youths claims that already advertisement was given in daily newspaper, but due to some flaws in the advertisement High Court ordered to modify the advertisement for 50 posts. The strikers further told TIWN that after 5 times of seeking appointment from the Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma, he didn't feel it necessary to meet them and such behaviour is quite unexpectable, when since 7 yrs no recruitment was done under his Ministry.

However, the hunger strike was not a sudden taken decision, but for years and years the unemployed youths held many press meets, demonstrations and it was on March 3, 2017 again that the students under 'Tripura Unemployed Agricultural and Horticultural Graduates Association' told media that since years and years the Agriculture and Horticulture graduates are appealing state govt to fill up various vacant posts, but there is no initiative of the state govt to fill up those vacancies. 

Thus the graduates and Post graduate unemployed youth have demanded to fill up the vacancies as fast as possible; otherwise they will go for mass protest and hunger strike after March 15.

Then on April-6, the youths announced about their demonstration at Astabol for 48 hrs demanding to fill up the vacancies. In a demonstration, staging infront of Astabol Stadium the unemployed youths demanded to fill up the vacancies as fast as possible under Agriculture Dept. 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 again and again & total 3 times they met Tripura CM Manik Sarkar too and requesting 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.

But with the completion of 48 hrs demonstration, passed out students sat in hunger strike demanding their demands to fulfill first. Till now, no Ministers vehicle stopped to see their condition, even they are going to and fro on that road.