Forest college students observe fast in Coimbatore

Eighty students of the Forest College in Mettupalayam, attached to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, today observed a one-day fast demanding that students passing out from the college should be given reservation and priority in appointment as rangers in the state forest department.
 
Demanding the withdrawal of a recent Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission order, allowing and giving preference to
other degree holders in the appointment, the students claimed when more than 180 students passed out of the forest colleges
annually, the government should take them on priority basis.

The protesters, who included 20 girl students, said they had been staging agitations in various forms since November 20 last pressing their demand.

The agitation would be intensified, if the government failed to heed to their request, the students said.