ADRE aspirants can collect copy of OMR sheets: Sarma

Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday announced that candidates, who had recently appeared for the Grade III Assam Direct Recruitment Exam, will be able to collect a photocopy of their OMR sheet from the exam authorities to match with answer keys. The decision comes after the govt had initiated processes to conduct state recruitment exams in a more fair and transparent manner.
An OMR sheet contains the personal information of the candidate, the date of exam, barcode/QR code and answers filled in by candidates.
In a video message released on his social media handle, Sarma that the candidates could collect photocopies of the OMR sheets, by paying Rs 50 to the exam conducting authority, Secondary Education Board of Assam (SEBA), from Friday to match their answers with the answer key, which will be released on Saturday. He added that it will help in maintaining transparency and eradicate any doubts.
Sarma further said that after matching their respective OMR sheet if a candidate found that a particular answer in the answer key was wrong, then the candidate would be able to lodge an appeal with SEBA, by paying a fee of Rs 500. “If the candidate’s appeal is found to be true, then the amount will be refunded,” he added.
The CM said that the provision of paying Rs 500 for appeal was introduced to prevent any intentional harassment of the officials and added that the mechanism had been introduced as a corrective measure.
Addressing concerns of some candidates, regarding their photographs in the OMR sheets, Sarma said that the matter had been taken into consideration and the authorities have been advised to avoid using photographs to protect the candidate’s identity. “However, it cannot be done in the ADR exam to be held next Sunday as the sheets are ready. However, it will be done for any future recruitment exams,” he said, claiming that his govt paid heed to the people and worked accordingly.
Regarding the controversy over frisking at the exam centres, following an incident in lower Assam’s Nalbari district, Sarma said that frisking of candidates, by officials or personnel of the same gender, could not be an issue.
However, the CM said that Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and Anganawadi workers will be additionally deployed at the frisking points to ensure no untoward incidents occur with women candidates.
Previously, a female candidate had alleged that a woman police constable had touched her private parts during frisking at the exam venue in Nalbari on September 15. Following the incident, a DIG-level probe had been initiated and the CM had announced that an SOP would be issued regarding frisking, in view of various court judgments and women commission.