Candidates face hardships as Railway Protection Special Force made no arrangements

Moula Ali: As the Headquarters of 7th Battalion Railway Protection Special Force (RPSF) Hyderabad started its recruitment of a new batch, many interested candidates across India throng outside the RPSF facility entry gates to apply for the exams.

As the exam process takes many days, the candidates have to arrange food and accommodation for themselves around the facility. Many candidates are from small villages and humble background and they cannot afford expenses of renting a room or dormitory. With no choice left, the candidates are staying on the footpath pavement alongside the facility.

An RPSF official shared, "The candidates have to be present at the entry gates 4.00 am in the morning, and that's the reason why many candidates sleep on the footpath pavements, so that they can be present at the gates on time. The authorities have already mentioned in the form that the candidates have to arrange their food and accommodation on their own. Every day, we see around 150 to 200 candidates waiting

outside here."

Mahindra Dayaveer, who came all the way from Firozabad (UP) for the recruitment, says, "I came here on Wednesday afternoon, and I saw a few candidates lying on the footpath and I also joined them. Later, I came to know that they had already completed their exams and were waiting for the results. When asked why they are resting here, they said there have been no arrangements made for the candidates inside the facility by the RPSF authorities.

By evening, we were said to empty the footpath. With no choice left, I and my other two friends went back to Secunderabad Railway Station and spent the night there. We couldn't make it till the call time due to unavailability of buses early in the morning, so we are waiting here. We will find someplace to sleep nearby from where we have easy access to the facility."

The Headquarters of 7th RPSF lies on the east Anandbagh and Moula Ali Road, which is surrounded by residential properties. Due to no availability of male hostels and dormitories, the candidates found it difficult to find a place to spend the night.

Shiv Kumar, a candidate from Belgaum Karnataka, says "Most of us can't afford to rent a room or hostel far away from the facility and again come back early morning here. I spent last night sitting opposite side of the road, but soon, I had to rush for some shelter as it started drizzling.

When I came back, the whole place was drenched. All of us are either munching on some quick eatery snacks. Everybody had to look after their own expenses here, and it is difficult as many of us come from a very poor background. The RPSF facility has so much of open space, and if the recruitments are properly managed, they can easily put up a big tent for the candidates to stay."

Due to the changing weather in city, the candidates either have to find some shelter due to rains or have to sit in the scorching sun waiting for their exam results.