Activists of tribal students, Adivasi Chatra Ekta, demonstrated in front of the Tata Football Academy (TFA) for the second day today demanding preference to local talents in recruitment of cadets.
Led by Chatra Ekta leader Jasai Mardi, over one hundred activists sat on a dharna since Monday demanding 50 per cent reservation for local talents in the Academy.
"Tata Steel's initiative to recruit freshers from across the country based on merit is a welcome move, but unfortunately no local talent was recruited since the Academy was established in 1987," Mardi alleged.
"We don't demand recruitment of only adivasi talents, but any one from the state irrespective of caste and creed should be inducted in the Academy based on talent," he said.
Mardi threatened to lock up the Academy's main entrance if the association's demand was not met.
Ramesh Mehta, senior vice-president, Jharkhand Football Association, said many local talents were inducted in the Academy based on their performance in the selection trial of TFA.
The activists lacked knowledge on the strict selection process of TFA, which picks up best talents from across the country including Jharkhand every two years, Mehta added.
