Jharkhand: Only 37% turnout at NDA exam, students rue transport problems

RANCHI: Jharkhand recorded a mere 37% turnout at in the National Defence Academy (NDA) examination which was conducted on Sunday.
Even though the district administration had made elaborate arrangements by deploying magistrates at all 47 centres across the city to maintain social distancing norms and other Covid norms, only 7,817 out of the total 20,638 registered candidates appeared for the national-level competitive examination for various commissioned positions in the defence force.
Ranchi ADM (law & order) Akhilesh Kumar Sinha said, “We had deployed 47 assistant coordination officers along with an equal number of supervisors at each test centre. Besides, each centre had a magistrate and two assistant magistrates.”
He added, “We had even deployed police officials at every centre here to facilitate the safe entry and exit of the candidates.”
Most candidates said had to go through immense difficulty to reach their respective centres since the transport options were limited. Chitanjeet Mahato said he hired a taxi to get to Ranchi from his hometown in Purulia (in West Bengal).
“I know a few others who were supposed to appear for the exam in Ranchi but they didn’t have enough resources to travel to and from Ranchi in a private vehicle,” Mahato said.
Rishu Raj said he travelled around 150 kilometres on a bike, along with his father, from Dhanbad to appear for the exam.
“We could not afford a taxi, so my father decided to bring me here on his bike. There are many who could have appeared from Dhanbad and other neighbouring districts if the public transport was available,” Raj said.
Ramgarh resident Akash Singh, who appeared for the examination at DAV Bariatu, said, “Many of my friends couldn’t sit for the test as they were apprehensive of being infected. I didn’t want to miss my opportunity as there is an age bar for competitive exams.”
On being asked about the implementation of safety norms at the examination centres, Akash said, “At first, I was scared thinking that the precautions at the centre will not be up to the mark, but all my worries soon went away as everything was conducted as per the safety protocols.”
Meanwhile, the JEE examination ended on Sunday and it recorded a turnout of 77% at the two centres in Tatisilwai and in Tupudana.