Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 15 October 2023
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI (M), has issued a fervent demand for standardised criteria in the physical endurance test and trade test for the recruitment of mazdoors (labourers) across all divisions within the Forest Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This call for uniformity was conveyed in a letter addressed to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the A & N Forest Department by D. Ayyappan, Secretary of the CPI (M) A & N State Organising Committee.
In the letter submitted a few days ago, Ayyappan underscored the pressing issue of differing standards utilised by various divisions for the physical endurance test and trade test to appoint mazdoor candidates. He urged that these discrepancies be rectified and a common set of guidelines be established.
One of the key grievances raised by Ayyappan was the substantial variance in the weight carried during the physical endurance test. He cited the Wildlife Division in Port Blair as an example, where candidates were required to carry a 20 Kg weight of sand, while in some other divisions, the requirement was only 15 Kg. Additionally, he pointed out that the criteria for activities such as long jump varied significantly between different divisions.
Ayyappan emphasised the need for standardisation by mentioning that the Wildlife Division in Port Blair had previously conducted a physical endurance test for mazdoor candidates in 2017. During a recent round of testing at Chidiyatapu, several candidates, including women, reportedly faced difficulties due to the varying standards of testing.
Therefore, in light of these inconsistencies, the CPI (M) Secretary strongly urged the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to personally address this issue. He demanded that until a uniform set of criteria for the physical endurance test and trade test is established, all ongoing physical endurance tests and trade tests conducted by various divisions be put on hold. Furthermore, Ayyappan proposed that any tests already conducted by the Wildlife Division in Port Blair or other divisions should be canceled, and candidates should be given another chance based on the forthcoming common criteria and guidelines, which would be determined by the department.