Unemployed youth protest against 50% women’s quota in Grade-3 teacher recruitment

Unemployed youth protested at Shaheed Smarak on Thursday, demanding that women's reservation in Grade-3 teacher recruitment not be extended from 30% to 50%.

On Friday, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma accepted a proposal to change the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, increasing women's reservation from 30% to 50% in Grade-3 teacher recruitment.

The BJP had pledged to raise this quota in its manifesto prior to the Assembly elections.

As per TOI, the Rajasthan Yuva Shakti Ekikrit Mahasangh president, Manoj Meena, stated, “The decision is anti-men. If the govt does not withdraw it, we will strongly oppose it. In Rajasthan, women were already being given 30% reservation in Grade-3 teacher recruitment. The govt has unnecessarily increased it to 50%. This reduces chances of selection of male candidates.”

The protesters stated that before being rolled out in other spheres, these reservations have to be imposed in the state cabinet. “If the govt wants to implement this rule, it should first be implemented in the cabinet, where only two women have been given space. After that, this rule should be implemented in all administrative posts. Only then should this policy be brought in for Grade-3 teachers,” Meena said.

A police force was positioned to stop the protesters as they prepared to march from Shaheed Smarak.