NE NEWS SERVICE
PUDUCHERRY, FEB 6
Students of the Pondicherry University took out a march towards the administrative block and go on an indefinite hunger strike demanding withdrawal of fee hike and free transport facility for day scholars.
The demands of the students including, resuming free bus services to Puducherry students immediately, since its inception the Univeversity was providing free service, but from this academic year the students have been asked to pay Rs 4000 per semester for transport services.
The also demanded to rollback the fee hike for all the courses and said that privatisation and commercialisation of education will not be tolerated.
The students urge implementation of 25 per cent reservation for the students of Puducherry in all the courses- currently only a few departments provide such reservation, however, benefit should be extended to every department and improve the hostel infrastructure- two new hostels that were constructed have no internet facilities.
The students at the Pondicherry University led by the Pondicherry University Students’ Council are on an indefinite hunger strike protesting against several measures taken up by the administration since Thursday morning. The students say that they will not give in until all their demands are met or they at least get a formal assurance from the varsity administration.
Condemning the anti-student mindset of the PU administration, Shonima Nelliat, Vice-President, Students’ Council said “Students who have graduated three-four years ago have not yet received their provisional certificates, they cannot pursue further studies because they haven’t received the documents. When we approach the controller, they blame the administration, when we approach them they blame the departmental managers, it’s a blame game that has been going on but no steps have been taken to make things better. We already met the Registrar today morning but did not get a proper assurance that the demands will be met. The administration only said they would do something but did not give us a timeline or any written confirmation. They are making fake promises for a long time now but making no improvements. We will continue the hunger strike indefinitely until all our demands are met.”
