TRIPURA 24.in NEWS NETWORK
Agartala: The All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) on Monday unleashed a massive demonstration near the Agartala City Centre, voicing a dual-pronged protest against the alleged National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) irregularities and the state government’s reported move to hand over government schools to private entities.
The protest, which commenced with a rally from Paradise Chowmuhani, saw hundreds of student activists raising slogans against the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the commercialisation of education in Tripura.
Anger Over NEET ‘Scam’ Reaches Paradise Chowmuhani
The student bodies initialled their demonstration at the busy Paradise Chowmuhani intersection before marching towards the Agartala City Centre. Protesters held placards demanding a thorough investigation into the NEET evaluation fraud and paper leak allegations that have left lakhs of medical aspirants across the country in limbo.
Speaking at the rally, AIDSO leadership slammed the Union Education Ministry for failing to maintain transparency in national-level competitive exams. They demanded the immediate dissolution of the NTA and accountability for the mental trauma inflicted upon meritorious students.
Stand Against Privatisation of Government Schools
Apart from national educational grievances, the demonstration heavily targeted the local administration’s decision regarding public infrastructure. AIDSO vehemently criticized the state’s proposed policy to hand over the management of state-run schools to private organizations under the guise of poor enrollment or administrative deficits.
AIDSO's Core Demands at Agartala Stir:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 1. Scrapping of NTA & High-level probe into NEET scam. │
│ 2. Immediate rollback of school privatisation policies.│
│ 3. Protection of public education infrastructure. │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
The student leaders argued that shifting state-run institutions to private hands will turn education into an expensive commodity, permanently depriving children from economically backward classes, farmers, and daily laborers of basic learning rights. Instead of transferring the assets, the state should address basic amenities like missing infrastructure and teacher shortages, the union stated.
Security Tightened Around City Centre
Anticipating an escalation, a heavy contingent of Tripura Police and security personnel was deployed around the Agartala City Centre. Although the atmosphere grew tense with aggressive slogan-shouting and counter-barricading, the demonstration concluded after student representatives submitted an official memorandum outlining their charter of demands. AIDSO warned that if the government proceeds with the privatization model, they will escalate their agitation into a statewide democratic movement.
