West Bengal’s job market is under the microscope as the Election Commission launches a probe into alleged irregularities in data entry operator appointments at IPAC centers. Linked to the much-maligned ‘Bengal SIR’ program, the complaints paint a picture of nepotism and manipulation that has left genuine applicants fuming.
Reports indicate that starting late last year, the SIR scheme promised entry-level positions in data management. However, insiders reveal a different story: posts filled not by exams or interviews, but by recommendations from influential quarters. Protesters gathered outside election offices this week, submitting dossiers of evidence including forged documents and insider testimonies.
The EC’s intervention marks a significant escalation. Task forces have been deployed to scrutinize hiring logs, cross-check candidate credentials, and interview key personnel. One complainant, a computer science graduate, shared his ordeal: ‘I cleared the prelims, but my slot went to a relative of a local leader.’ Such stories are multiplying, fueling public discontent.
Political ramifications are mounting. The Trinamool Congress faces renewed accusations of patronage politics, while BJP and CPI(M) leaders demand a high-level inquiry. Economists warn that persistent recruitment scandals erode youth confidence and hinder skill development in the state.
Looking ahead, the EC has vowed transparency in its findings, potentially leading to cancellations and fresh recruitments. This case underscores the need for digitized, tamper-proof hiring systems across India. Bengal’s youth, long sidelined, now eye this as a beacon of hope against entrenched malpractices.
