Scores of youths ( most unemployed)protested against the Hemant Soren government’s new employment policy. This time in the Pakur district of Santhal Pargana division of Jharkhand.

These youths took out processions in Pakur town. This brought traffic of vehicles to halt. The agitators most of whom were Adivasi(tribals)and Mulwasi( locals) were shouting slogans against the Soren government’s “ 60-40 “.

Such protests were recorded in the districts of Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Deoghar, and Palamau.

Earlier, the Soren government had got a policy approved by the state Assembly providing job eligibility to those who carried residential certificates based on land records of 1932 khatiyan. And it provided 50 percent reservation to deprived sections including ST, SC, OBCs and EWS.

This was not legally valid. Hence, the Soren government came out with a Cabinet-approved quota level go up to 60 per cent, with the addition of 10 per cent reservation for the general EWS (economically weaker section) category.

The rest 40 per cent would remain open, but aspirants might be asked to give a declaration about their domicile. This was billed as 60 40 employment policy.

Across the state, this 60-40 employment policy had evoked widespread opposition protests by students and youths. Even students and youths who took out a rally and brought traffic to stand still in Pakur on Saturday were demanding 1932 khatiyan-based domicile policy and employment policy.

The agitating youths have claimed that the one-day Santhal Pargana bandh was successful. Now they have threatened that if their demand of 1932 Khatiyan-based domicile and employment policy is not implemented by the Soren government, they will launch an “ economic blockade”.

Though they did not explain the economic blockade, more than 250 persons were taken into custody only to be released in the evening.