In February, hundreds of students gathered at Lucknow’s Eco Garden to protest.
Their reason? To demand a re-examination for the Uttar Pradesh police constable recruitment which was held from February 16 to 18. The students were shocked to hear of reports through social media that the exam paper was leaked.
On February 24, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the exams stand cancelled and that the re-examination would be held within 6 months.
While this came as some relief to the protesting students, it didn’t take away the hardships they endured to get to the examination centres. The exam for 60,244 posts was held in 2,385 centres across all 75 districts of U.P.
Students from several northern States arrived and departed in crammed trains, holding on to every inch of space they could get, if they were lucky enough to get in. For most, who come from rural backgrounds, a government job is seen as a way to lift their families out of poverty.
Read more: U.P. constable recruitment exam | A journey of hope and hardship
Reporting: Sandeep Saxena and Mayank Kumar
Video and photos: Sandeep Saxena
Script and production: Kanishkaa Balachandran
