Out in the cold, agri grads turn up heat on govt over jobs

Ludhiana: The protest by the Agriculture Students Association of Punjab (ASAP) at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) entered its 91st day on Tuesday, with agriculture graduates continuing their sit-in despite harsh winter conditions. The students have been demanding recruitment to hundreds of vacant posts across agriculture and allied government departments. Braving biting cold and dense fog, the protesters have been spending nights under quilts and blankets near Gate No. 1 of the university, stating that they have no option but to persist until their demands are accepted.Several students said the conditions had become extremely difficult, but they felt compelled to continue the agitation. "It is hard and very cold, but we have no choice. The government has not been listening to us. We are continuing our protest day and night," said student Harman Mann. He added that although they have made repeated efforts to meet ministers, government officials and politicians, and despite several assurances, no recruitment process has begun. Students maintained that multiple meetings with state ministers, MLAs and senior officials had not led to any concrete outcome.
Another protesting student said they would not abandon the agitation, stressing that the issue was deeply linked to their careers and the state's agricultural future. "But we will continue our protest, and it is a question of our whole career, life and Punjab's agriculture. We will continue to struggle until the government agrees to our demands," he said.The students have met several cabinet ministers, including Aman Arora, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Harpal Cheema and Harjot Bains. They have also approached Anandpur Sahib MP Malwinder Singh Kang, several MLAs from different districts, and officials such as the Agriculture Secretary. They said they even presented their concerns to the Governor and other senior authorities, but the situation remained unchanged.The protesting agriculture graduates pointed out a significant number of vacancies in key departments. They said that 310 of the 934 sanctioned posts of Agricultural Development Officers (ADO) were unfilled, accounting for about 40% of the total. Similarly, 315 of the 725 posts of Agricultural Sub Inspectors (ASI), or 43%, remained vacant. The shortage, they said, was even more severe in the Market Committee, where 105 of the 115 posts of Market Secretary were vacant, amounting to 91% vacancies.In the horticulture sector, 139 of the 225 posts of Horticulture Development Officer (HDO) were unoccupied, while 130 of the 226 sanctioned posts of Soil Conservation Officer (SCO) were vacant, representing 57%. Students also said that 18 of the 23 posts of District Marketing Officer remained vacant, leaving 78% positions unfilled. They added that several agencies, including PunAgro, PunSeed and Markfed, were facing shortages of staff as well. According to the students, no recruitment had taken place for years, affecting both governance and agricultural extension services.Despite the prolonged agitation, the students said the authorities had yet to take meaningful action, and they would continue their protest until the government initiates the recruitment process for the vacant posts.

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