OSSC aspirants make paper boats with admit cards and float in river, demand RI and Amin re-examination

Following massive protests by OSSC aspirants in Bhubaneswar for the cancellation and re-examination of RI and Amin examinations, the aspirants on Thursday staged demonstrations in Cuttack.

The uproar came amidst allegations of irregularities in the conduction of the examination by a 'blacklisted' organisation. Protesters are creatively expressing their discontent by making paper boats from their admit cards and floating them in the Kathajodi River near Cuttack Netaji Bus Terminal (CNBT). 

In light of these issues, the aspirants are also demanding immediate removal of the organisation from exam responsibilities apart from holding re-examination. 

“Job appointments have become a business, and the authorities are jeopardizing the future of students by entrusting exam duties to a blacklisted company. We are making these paper boats out of our admit cards and floating them away in the Kathajodi River to demonstrate the approach of government towards the future of aspirants. We demand an immediate re-examination; else, lakhs of students will join the protests,” warned one aspirant.

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Another aspirant expressed frustration, saying, “The Chief Minister Grievance Cell was established to address citizens' issues. However, despite students raising concerns about the exams repeatedly over the last 10 days through various platforms, the government has not taken any action.” 

Similarly, another applicant said, “The assurance we received from the Higher Education Minister was not fulfilled, which is why we had to stage this protest. The government had invited a seven-member student committee to discuss the issues. We were promised that immediate actions would be taken, but even after 72 hours, no necessary measures have been taken.”