Thiruvananthapuram: A group of 54 former sportspersons are on their second course of protests this year in front of the Kerala Secretariat, demanding the promised government jobs as per quota.
In February this year, the athletes had protested for the same demands but stopped and cleared the place after talks with the government. Now, they are back since their demands were not met. Through the past week, they have resorted to shaving their hair, crawling on knees etc., as protest measures to enlighten those concerned about the gravity of their needs.
The athletes are national champions who had won gold, silver or bronze medals in various games and earned eligibility for a government job under the sports quota. Many protestors were enlisted for the jobs at different periods from 2010 to 2014, according to The News Minute.
Candidates under the sports quota have to win any of the first three medals of victory to become eligible to apply for a government job. Every year, 50 government posts were reserved for the sports quota, and it was in February 2020, 196 athletes got appointments under the quota for the first time.
But 54 of the 250 posts still lie vacant, and that 54 are sitting before the Secretariate. Also, out of the appointed 196 seats, 15 are reported not joined, which makes the tally of vacancies to 69, the protesters said. But the government is claiming the opposite, that vacancies under the sports quota have been filled.
Protesters said they were on the same list as those appointed 196 and should have entered the service two years before, but are not, and the only way before them is protesting.
State Sports Minister V Adburahiman had scheduled a meeting with the protesting athletes on Thursday, but he rescheduled it for later. TNM reports that the delay in the protesting athletes' appointments severely affects their lives as many are having unfortunate living conditions at home and are working on meagre wages.
They have left home and work- their only livelihood -and came to the capital for the protests from as far as Ernakulam, Kottayam, Idukki etc.