Durgapur Blues- JOT/SOT Invigilation/Evaluation

During our training period, our services were required to assist in the junior and senior OPERATOR trainee (JOT and SOT) exams-invigilation and correction. Most of the times it was for one task, but interested people can opt for both the tasks (both invigilation and correction) so that they are eligible for two compensatory leaves .We, especially south Indians always opted for double duty, as we were very far from Andhra and any additional leaves will help us to stay with our parents for a couple of extra days.

Either Invigilation or Assessment was mandatory though. So everybody was assured of at least one compensatory leave. But for assessment, they need more people and used to offer the additional comp off. Naturally, there was a competition among lot of people for double duty. Among all south Indians Raju and myself were always present for double duty. I remember how difficult it was for us to perform the double duty without committing any mistakes as it directly affected to lives of so many applicants.

A bus used to pick us up from the hostel and drop us at the examination centers (typically some schools/community centers). We used to assist the invigilators and represent steel plant. All the candidates used to respectfully address us as ‘sir’. We felt very proud for the different treatment. We announce the basic rules and see their reaction. We faced their situation before lot of times, but this is a different feeling to be playing the role from other side. All of us were very friendly and we kept everybody at ease. Once the exam started, we faced many problems as some questions were not printed properly, some answer books were not right. Some questions are fully omitted from a few of the candidates. They had very little time which they could not afford to waste. Unfortunately we had limited options and tried to provide quick fixes. We were sure that the exam was very tough (Frankly, I felt it is tougher than our Management Trainee exam) and nobody could score much. The problems in mathematics were extremely difficult and I was not sure how the examinees could answer such questions.

By evening all the papers were sealed in covers and handed over to the assessment centre (Our Training department and administrative building 7to 8 storied building). We were given a partner for correction (not known till last minute, it is like preventing people from collusion) .My partner and I were given the bunch of answer sheets and the key. We started correcting them, one person reading the answers and other person correcting it. Lot of people could not score much as we expected. But to our utter astonishment, there were people who scored almost 90 percent of marks. I was not sure how it could happen. Frankly we used to believe that there were lots of irregularities in the process.
There were various techniques used by candidates to suggest their identity so that some insiders can help. For example writing something different and marking some pages with some figures/pictures/symbols etc….
Once I Joined the Department (after successful completion of our training), we were asked by our non-executives whether we knew any trainees so that they can pass on some identity hints to us which they expect us to forward it to our friends (trainees) .As a matter of fact, one day during the assessment one senior executive entered into one of the rooms and asked whether we found any sign/symbol. In response, one of our Hyderabadi guys ‘Mahendranath’ strictly ordered the senior person to leave the room and stop encouraging any unethical means. He was not worried about the guy’s role/his status. I still remember and appreciate the gesture.
During correction/assessment, Sagar, Raju, Venkatesh and myself were part of one group. Sagar was reading the answers and all of us were correcting them. We had lot of fun and were urging Sagar to read faster. Raju said’ unable to wait for next answers … read faster….) .
Sagar was annoyed and said philosophically.. "arey, manamu life tho adukovaddu ra…” irritating Sagar made us laugh and encouraged us to do the same again, just to see his anger…


The correction task was tough and for people who were part of double duty. We were sleepy and had back pains and the target to complete so many papers seemed impossible.

I remember Raju saying’ in order to recover from these pains, we need to take 2 days off work.J

I still remember that the very first time that we did the invigilation, Nag, Praveen and I were part of it and we started from Steel house in the first batch. The bus dropped us at Training department. We had big chats during the morning time before we were taken to the examination centers.

After we finished everything, we missed out Nag somehow and Praveen and I discussed a lot during our waiting time for bus to return us at Steel house. We were excited and shared our experiences in excitement. We also discussed about his friends and my friends. That was the first time when I talked to any guy who was out of my network (Sagar, Jayanath, Sashikanth, venkatesh, Raju, Arun Jain, Shashi Bhagat, Subbu). Of course , I knew all andhraites by then, Chandra, Chakri, Pala, Mahendranth, Rajmohan, Nag, muthy and Praveen. On that day, though the bus was delayed, I was happy that I could make another good friend.Though our friendship(Praveen and mine) was very short lived,but was great.