Traffic on Circular Road here came to a grinding halt for over an hour around 12.30pm on Friday after more than 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff of 600 unaided educational institutions across the state hit the road in protest against the government’s policy of giving grants based on performance.

In 2004, the state Cabinet had decided that every unaided educational institution would get grants ranging between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 35 lakh if 40 per cent of its students pass clear the matric exam. However, in 2017-18 fiscal, it was decided that grants would be paid according to each institute’s performance in class X finals.

According to a protester, the move means that an institution, which is entitled to Rs 5 lakh grant, will get only 40 per cent of the amount if 40 per cent of students clear the matric exam.

During the agitation, the protesters, under the aegis of Jharkhand Rajya Vitrahit Shi-khsa Sanyukt Sangharsh Morcha, raised slogans against the state government and school education and literacy department secretary A.P. Singh.

The rally, which kicked off from Morabadi grounds, passed through Radium Road before reaching Circular Road, a distance of around 1km.

Kutchery-resident Masoon Choudhary, who had gone to receive his son studying in DAV Kapil Dev, Kadru, said he had to wait for more than 30 minutes as the school bus got delayed because of the stir. “The school bus of my son got stuck in the jam and reached half-an-hour late at 1.30pm,” Choudhary said.

E-rickshaw driver Mohammed Jubaid said he had to drop his passenger midway because the road was completely jammed. “When my vehicle got stuck in the jam because of the protest, I requested the passenger to walk as waiting would unnecessarily delay him,” Jubaid said.

Kotwali OC S.N. Mandal said traffic had to be diverted because of the stir. “We stopped the protestors near Jaquir Hussain Park close to Raj Bhavan and ensured that movement of vehicles wasn’t affected in other areas, too,” Mandal said.