Frustrated by chronic unemployment, migration, systemic neglect, and the government’s failure to address their demands, youth organizations under Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha have announced a massive gherao of the state assembly on August 5. The decision comes amid alarming statistics revealing Jharkhand’s unemployment rate has surged to 17%—three times the national average—while over 10 lakh youth are forced to migrate annually in search of livelihood, often facing exploitation in other states. JJM is a coalition of progressive organisations, formed to facilitate efforts to defend people’s rights and democratic values in Jharkhand.
During a charged press conference at Ranchi Press Club, young activists accused the Hemant Soren government of betraying the aspirations of Jharkhand’s youth. Despite six years in power, the government has failed to scrap the controversial “domicile policy” introduced by former CM Raghubar Das, which continues to favor outsiders in government jobs. Shockingly, 60% of state jobs are held by non-locals, as revealed by an RTI query from JSSC. Recent recruitments, such as the chowkidar posts in Palamu, Latehar, and Khunti, deliberately excluded Scheduled Caste candidates, flouting constitutional reservation norms.
The activists highlighted a series of recruitment scandals that have shattered trust in the system. The JSSC-CGL exams of January and September 2024 were cancelled due to paper leaks, yet no CBI investigation was initiated despite demands. The Utpad Sipahi recruitment drive saw 12 aspirants die under mysterious circumstances, while the 2023 Jharkhand Police recruitment advertisement for 4,919 posts was abruptly withdrawn, leaving thousands in despair.
Jharkhand’s education system is in shambles, with 7,900 government primary schools functioning with just one teacher for 3.8 lakh students, as per UDISE+ data. Higher education is no better—universities like Ranchi have not seen regular faculty appointments since 2008, leaving 4,000 teaching positions vacant. Despite a law mandating 75% job reservations for locals in private companies, only 21% of jobs go to Jharkhand’s youth, exposing the government’s failure in enforcement.
The crisis has forced over 10 lakh Jharkhandis to migrate as bonded laborers to states like Delhi, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu, where they face wage theft and abuse. Meanwhile, funds meant for skill development remain unutilized. The activists cited heartbreaking cases, including 251 fourth-grade employees in Palamu dismissed after eight years of service and landless Dalit youth denied caste certificates essential for jobs.
On August 5, thousands of youth will lay siege to the assembly, demanding immediate action. Their non-negotiable demands include scrapping the anti-youth domicile policy, introducing a transparent and permanent recruitment system, filling all vacant posts with locals, enhancing SC/ST/OBC and women’s quotas, simplifying land and caste certificate processes for Dalits, and implementing policies to curb migration through skill development and social security.
“This is not just a protest for jobs—it’s a fight for Jharkhand’s dignity,” declared youth leaders Ajay Ekka, Alka Aind, and Manoj Bhuiyan. “If the government continues to ignore us, this movement will intensify until justice is served.” With anger reaching a boiling point, August 5 could mark a turning point in the state’s struggle for employment rights and social justice.
About Jharkhand
Jharkhand (“The land of forest”) is a State in eastern India, created on 15 November 2000, from what was previously the southern half of Bihar.The State shares its border with the States of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south and West Bengal to the east. It has an area of 79,714 km² (30,778 sq mi). It is the 15th largest State by area, and the 14th largest by population. Hindi is the official language of the State.The city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka its sub capital. The State is known for its waterfalls, hills and holy places: Baidyanath Dham, Parasnath and Rajrappa are major religious sites.
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