STUDENTS and youth came out onto the streets in large numbers on September 15, demanding end to anarchy in education and demanding jobs for all. At the call of eight student-youth organisations, thousands of students and youth joined in protest rallies and demonstrations throughout West Bengal.

In Kolkata, as the rally began from College Street, police tried to stop it. But the militant mood of the rally forced them to clear out. The rally, decorated with yellow umbrellas with demands written on them, marched upto Esplanade. On a festoon, it was written: ‘Kolkata’s counter attack to Jio dallas and those who steal rice meant for poor”.  The students and youth raised slogans against the New Education Policy, and demanded proper arrangements for imparting education in the pandemic situation. One of the main demands was unemployment allowance for the growing number of unemployed youth. In West Bengal, the job scenario is particularly grim. Both in rural and urban areas, new job creation has virtually stopped for years. This has accentuated with the pandemic. The discontent of the younger generation was reflected in rallies in practically every city and town of the state. In Medinipur, a large rally marched through the streets. In Coochbehar, former DYFI general secretary Md Salim marched with the youth. He addressed the gathering and said, TMC has chased away the industry and BJP is selling off public sector. They are not interested in providing jobs for the youth. We have to fight for defending livelihood of the people.

The response to rallies was huge in recent times.