The Hindu : New Delhi News : JNUSU backs freshers on strike

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 12, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

JNUSU backs freshers on strike

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 11 .A day after Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) witnessed a strike called by the students' union, four freshers, including two blind students, went on a hunger strike to intensify the agitation with members of student outfits.

While the strike by the four freshers is primarily for hostel facility and the provision of first and second guest status, they are also supporting the demands raised by the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) and the other student outfits with regard to more scholarships, improvements in library facilities and other issues of concern.

"It is very difficult for new students like us to live without a proper accommodation. Although we have been asking the University to start allotting rooms in the two new hostels that have come up on the campus, no steps have been taken so far,'' said Mathew, one of the students on hunger strike here.

Although many of the demands raised by the Union were accepted and approved by the Vice-Chancellor, G.K.Chadha, following a meeting with the Union to discuss the charter of demands on Friday, members of the JNUSU would be meeting the Vice-Chancellor again on Monday for further talks.

"Our demands regarding the library and sports facility and funds have been approved by the University. We did raise the issue of starting allotment in the new hostels but were informed by the University that work is still on in the new buildings with water facility was yet to be restored. As of now, the University has given us October 15 as the date for the hostel work to be finished,'' said JNUSU vice-president, Ena.

While assuring its support to the students on strike, the JNUSU said it would be taking out a torchlight process on Sunday and launch a "mass hunger strike'' and in case negotiations with the University failed it would go for a bigger agitation.

Extending its support to the students, the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) today expressed solidarity with freshers and said it would be intensifying the pressure on the University administration by joining the protest.

"It was the University's responsibility to ensure that work on the hostel was finished in time. Many students are struggling because they don't have proper accommodation. We are also demanding that the University start the provision of guest status to students, so that at least bonafide students without a place to live can at least make use of the residence facility on the campus,'' said Kuntal Krishna, the national spokesperson for NSUI.

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