Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Varg-1 2023 candidates, awaiting recruitment for Higher Secondary Teacher posts, staged a protest outside Rani Kamlapati Railway Station on Thursday, demanding a second round of counselling and an increase in vacant posts.

Holding begging bowl, protesters expressed their frustration over the government’s delay in filling up teachers’ posts.

A striking part of the protest was the participation of women candidates, some of whom cut their hair to express their anger. Anupama Sharma, a protester, warned that if their demands are not met, all women would shave their heads.

"It will be a shame for the government if women are forced to take such an extreme step," she said. The candidates, who have cleared both the selection and eligibility exams, said that despite 8,720 posts being announced, only 2,900 have been filled, leaving thousands of candidates in the waiting list.

The protesters also said that over 15,000 teaching positions are vacant in the Tribal Affairs Department, as per a DPI Gazette Letter of December 27, 2024. Their main demand is that the government should conduct second round of counselling to fill these unfilled vacancies.

“Without a job, life feels meaningless. If nothing is going to change, the Chief Minister should permit us to self-immolate,” one protester said.