Kolkata: Those who rallied on Friday demanding Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation were elated after learning that he stepped down in the wake of mounting pressure from student-youth movements across the country. But they said the victory was only a stepping stone towards the larger goal of reforming the education system, including scrapping the National Testing Agency (NTA).Over 500 members of the Medical Service Centre, Service Doctors’ Forum and Nurses’ Unity took out a victory march on Saturday from Medical College to Esplanade after Pradhan tendered his resignation following weeks of protests. They also demanded the immediate abolition of the NTA and the NEP, withdrawal of all legal action against protesting students and youths, punishment for those responsible for attacks on students in Delhi and elsewhere, and compensation for the families of those who died by suicide due to administrative failures linked to the NEET exam.
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Biplab Chandra, state secretary of the Medical Service Centre, said, “We congratulate the students whose protests finally compelled the Union minister to resign. We believe this movement will remain an unstoppable source of inspiration in the struggle to secure many more pending demands in health and education across the country.”Areena Roshan, who took part in Friday’s protest with two friends, said it was her first experience of a street protest. She carried a placard demanding Pradhan’s resignation. “I am happy that he has stepped down. But at the same time, we will have to work to make the education system pro-student and bring in reforms so that the future of the youth is secured,” she said.Students of Scottish Church College also held a rally from their college to Hedua on Saturday morning. Senjuti Sasmal, a history honours student, said, “His resignation is just a stepping stone. It shows that the govt is accountable to democracy. We are sticking to our demand of scrapping the NTA, which conducts competitive exams.”A protest in front of Lady Brabourne College also turned into a celebration as participants received news of Pradhan’s resignation.Rabindra Bharati research scholar Shuvajit Sarkar said, “This is the victory of the student-led movement. It shows what streets can do that Parliament cannot. However, this victory is partial, as one of the main demands — scrapping the NTA — has not been met yet.” NET aspirant Barsha Baral said, “It is a partial victory as nothing has been said about scrapping the NTA or punishing those who thrashed students and fired pellet guns at them.”Filmmaker Kasturi Basu said, “The protests were not solely for the resignation of one minister but also reflected the youth’s anger and concern over an uncertain future, lack of state funding for education and lack of job guarantees. They form 40% of our population. This movement showed that youths can’t be taken for granted.”Social activist Suman Sengupta said, “The first battle is won. The next goal is to scrap the NTA and reclaim and reform the education system.” Marketing professional Bidisha Ghosh said, “The movement has re-emphasised that the govt must be accountable and there should be room for protest and dissent.”(Inputs from Indranil Das)
