By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Seeking basic amenities in government-run hostels, increasing food allowance and filling up of vacant posts of hostel staff and posts in residential schools, scores of students took out protest march and staged a demonstration in Dharwad on September 18.
In the protest staged under the aegis of Dharwad district unit of Students Federation of India (SFI), the students marched from Karnatak College campus in Dharwad to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, on reaching which, they formed a human chain and then staged a dharna.
Addressing the protesting students, State Vice-President of SFI Basavaraj S. alleged that students were forced suffer due to lack of basic amenities in government hostels in Dharwad. “Thousands of students from various taluks and districts come to Dharwad for getting education. However, they are being forced to stage a protest seeking adequate hostel facilities,” he said.
Pointing out that the quality of food being supplied in the hostels was very poor, he said that despite repeated appeals, the authorities had failed to respond and take remedial measures. “Such is the severity of the problem that due to lack of quality food, several of the students are forced to attend college without a proper meal,” he alleged.
Mr. Basavaraj said that the hostels were being run in private buildings that do not have basic infrastructure and amenities, and the plight of students had been reduced to that of prison inmates.
He pointed out that nearly 18,910 students were deprived of hostel facilities due to the apathetic attitude of government authorities. Although the number of students seeking hostel admission is increasing every year, no comprehensive plan had been worked out to address the issue. “Dharwad district itself required additional 46 post-metric hostels,” he said.
District President Nagaraj Chalavadi alleged that the students who raised the issue of poor quality food and lack of amenities were being targeted forcing some of them to leave the hostels and make alternate arrangements. In the current academic year, at least 10 additional hostels should be opened, he demanded.
Few students shared their bad experience in the hostels. They also claimed that libraries do not have even basic text books and the hostels lack sports equipment. Subsequently, the protestors submitted a memorandum addressed to the authorities containing a list of 25 demands.
