Taking reforms to the road: From Ranchi protest to a Statewide yatra
The students’ protest in Ranchi over alleged irregularities in Jharkhand’s recruitment exams for government jobs has remained in the news for most of August. It has pushed student leader Devendra Nath Mahto from a prolonged protest in Ranchi to a Statewide yatra demanding transparency, accountability and reforms in the government recruitment system
JLKM leader Devendra Nath Mahto during launch of 24-District JPSC-JSSC 'Recruitment System Reform Yatra', at Nemra village, the birthplace of former CM Shibu Soren in Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, to bring reform in the recruitment examinations on August 24, 2026.
It has been just six days since the students’ protests ended in Ranchi, Jharkhand’s capital, and Devendra Nath Mahto, 34, is out on a yatra. A student leader in the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM), though he removed this from his Facebook account a couple of days ago, he went on a hunger strike for 16 days, along with five others from different factions, demanding accountability and reforms in the exam system.
On August 24, Mr. Mahto launched the Bharti Vyavastha Sudhar Yatra (Recruitment System Reform Journey) — the second phase of his campaign, from Nemra village in Ramgarh district. This is the birthplace of former Jharkhand Chief Minister, the late Shibu Soren, who was also the co-founder of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), currently in power in a coalition government in the State. The village is surrounded by mountains, and whether Mr. Mahto realises it or not, they are reflective of his lofty dreams of cleaning up the system.
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