Mumbai, January 21: The Minority Research and Training Institute (MARTI), established for the social, economic and educational upliftment of the minority community, has not yet got a director even after six months. The process of creation of the post is pending due to the absence of a high-level committee meeting, and the institute’s fund of Rs 6.25 crore has been lying unused for the last five months.

Samajwadi Party MLA Raees Sheikh has written a letter to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Minority Minister Dattatreya Bharane on January 20, demanding immediate intervention in the matter.

Establishment and status of MARTI Institute

Marti Institute was established in August 2024 with the aim of studying the backwardness of the minority community and providing free training to students for examinations like UPSC, MPSC, JEE and NEET. 10 posts were created for this institute, established on the lines of institutions like BARTI, Amrit, Mahajyoti and Sarathi.

However, the sanctioned fund of Rs 6.25 crore has not been utilised yet as the director of the institute has not been appointed. It was proposed to give the charge of director to the District Collector of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, but the Chief Secretary rejected the proposal citing elections.

MLA Raees Sheikh’s displeasure

Expressing displeasure over this, MLA Raees Sheikh said, “It has been six months since the establishment of the institute, but its functioning is completely stalled. Other autonomous bodies have started their training programs for exams like UPSC, MPSC, JEE and NEET, but the Marti Institute is still inactive.”

Students are suffering losses

MLA Shaikh said that most of the students from the minority community come from ordinary families and cannot afford expensive private coaching classes. In such a situation, due to the stalling of the institute’s functioning, the students are suffering academic and career related losses.

Immediate demands raised

MLA Raees Sheikh has made the following demands in his letter:

1. The functioning of the Marti Institute should be given immediate administrative impetus.
2. The creation of the sanctioned 10 posts should be approved and the process should be completed.
3. An IAS officer should be immediately appointed to the post of director of the institute.
4. Additional funds of at least Rs 15 crore should be sanctioned for the training programs of students.

MLA Sheikh warned that if the process of the institute is not improved soon, there could be massive loss of students.

Mumbai: The policy of the Mahayuti government to play with the future of the young generation of Maharashtra has now become clear. The merit list of the State Service 2022 exam has been released a year ago, but till now the appointments of 623 officers are pending. Due to this, the students are facing mental stress and serious injustice is being done to their future.

The credibility of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission has completely ended during the time of the Mahayuti government, and its mismanagement, illegal interference and inaction have affected the rights of the students. In this context, a resolution has been taken to surround the secretaries of the Public Service Commission under the leadership of Mumbai President of Nationalist Youth Congress Sharadchandra Pawar Party, Adv. Amol Matele.

Adv. Statement of Amol Matele

“The state government should immediately stop playing with the future of students. By keeping the appointment of 623 candidates pending, the government has crossed the limits of its negligence. We are giving a clear message to the government and the Public Service Commission – our struggle for the rights of students will intensify. If a decision is not taken on time, we will take to the streets and increase the intensity of the movement.”

Demands of students

• 623 officers should be appointed immediately.
• Transparency should be ensured in the work of Maharashtra Public Service Commission.
• Irregularities causing mental and physical stress to students should be eliminated.

Nationalist Youth Congress is committed to getting justice for the students through this siege movement and has resolved to hold the careless administration of the government accountable.

Patna, Jan 4: Even as a section of candidates and Jan Suraaj convener Prashant Kishor are sitting on a dharna here, the BPSC organized re-examinations at 22 centres for candidates affected by December 13, 2024, disruptions at the Bapu Examination Centre.

The December 13 examination of the BPSC was canceled due to chaos caused by the delayed distribution of question papers. This issue escalated when some candidates brought mobile phones into the examination centre, filmed the disruption, and possibly shared it widely.

Many candidates are protesting at Gardanibagh, expressing dissatisfaction with the examination arrangements and subsequent events.

Prashant Kishor, a political strategist and public figure, is also staging a sit-in protest at the Gandhi Maidan under the Bapu statue for three days, signaling broader discontent or seeking to amplify the grievances of the affected candidates.

Meanwhile, the district administration of Patna has deployed a large police force around the examination centers to ensure peace and prevent any untoward incidents.

Section 144 has been imposed, prohibiting the assembly of individuals around examination centres, to curb protests and ensure a controlled environment.

The officials deployed at the exam centres thoroughly checked candidates before entry ensuring no prohibited items, such as mobile phones, were brought inside.

Candidates can only carry admit cards, pens, and water bottles, to minimize the chances of malpractices or disruptions.

The district administration is also monitoring all 22 examination centres through CCTV cameras. It has also deployed 65 duty magistrates at centres and 14 at the control room to closely monitor the examination being held between 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Originally, 12,000 candidates were registered for the examination at the Bapu centre, but only 7000 candidates have downloaded admit cards for the re-examination.

The district administration has had the dual task of conducting a smooth re-exam and addressing the protests at Gardanibagh and Gandhi Maidan putting the administration under additional pressure.

The involvement of high-level security and administrative oversight highlights the issue’s sensitivity. Any misstep could further tarnish the BPSC’s reputation.