Over 1,000 days after clearing physical and written tests, Tripura Fire Service aspirants are still waiting for recruitment. Candidates demand urgent viva voce scheduling, final selection, and appointment letters, calling on CM Manik Saha to end the prolonged delay affecting hundreds of unemployed youth in the state.
Over 1,000 days have passed, yet hundreds of young aspirants for the Tripura Fire and Emergency Services are still waiting for their recruitment process to be completed. Their frustration reached new heights on Monday when a group of these candidates once again met with the Director of the Fire and Emergency Services, demanding answers for what they call an “unjustifiable” delay.
The recruitment drive, which initially advertised 304 fireman posts and 25 driver positions, attracted nearly 50,000 applicants. After a rigorous selection process, only 1,700 candidates successfully cleared the physical fitness test last year. These shortlisted candidates later appeared for the written examination on January 8, 2023. However, since then, there has been no further progress—no viva voce, no final selection list, and no appointment letters.
Speaking to the media, one aggrieved aspirant expressed the collective disappointment of the group:
“We endured immense hardship to prepare and succeed. Clearing each stage was a challenge, but we did it. Now it feels like all our effort was for nothing. Out of 50,000 applicants, only 1,700 made it this far, yet we are still being kept in uncertainty.”
According to the aspirants, they have made repeated appeals to the authorities over the past year, but their requests have largely gone unanswered. They allege that the delay reflects an apathetic attitude from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, which falls under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha.
The protestors posed a pointed question to the state administration:
“In which language will the government or the Chief Minister understand our plight?”
They also highlighted the irony of their situation, questioning why, in an era where the government promotes digitalization and development, young job seekers are forced to protest on the streets for something as basic as the completion of a recruitment process.
A Call for Immediate Action
The candidates’ demands are straightforward yet urgent:
-
Immediate scheduling of the viva voce tests for shortlisted candidates.
-
Completion of the final selection process without further delay.
-
Release of appointment letters to the selected candidates.
They have also urged FRBT Chairman Pradip Acharjee and Chief Minister Saha to personally intervene to ensure that justice is delivered to the aspirants, many of whom are struggling financially while awaiting employment.
“This delay is not just a bureaucratic inconvenience—it’s destroying careers. Many of us are crossing the upper age limit for government jobs. Every passing day closes more doors for us,” said another candidate.
Unemployment Crisis in Tripura
The situation of the fire service aspirants reflects a larger unemployment crisis in Tripura. Government recruitment delays have become a recurring grievance among educated youth, who say that such prolonged processes leave them stuck in professional limbo. Aspirants claim that delays often lead to further competitive disadvantages, as candidates lose both time and eligibility for other job opportunities.
For many, joining the Fire and Emergency Services is not just a career choice—it’s a commitment to public service. The delay, they argue, undermines not only their aspirations but also the operational capacity of the department, which is in need of trained personnel to handle emergencies across the state.
Looking Ahead
As the protests continue, public pressure on the government is building. Civil society groups and some opposition leaders have already voiced support for the aspirants, urging the administration to address the backlog in recruitment processes and uphold transparency in hiring.
| Also Read: Tapas Dey writes to CM |
Whether this latest meeting with the department’s director will finally push the process forward remains to be seen. But for the 1,700 candidates who have waited more than 1,000 days, the hope is that their patience will not be tested much longer.
Until then, the question hangs in the air: Will the government take decisive action, or will these youths be left to protest for yet another year?
