Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

All is not well with AP Study Circle

VISAKHAPATNAM: Agitated over lack of qualified faculty at the AP Study Circle (APSC) here, 23 IAS aspirants from SC and ST communities have launched an indefinite hunger strike.

When the aspirants have grilled honorary director B. Kishore, a professor in Andhra University, over the sorry state of affairs, he has dashed off a resignation letter to AU Registrar. In the letter, he said: “It would be shameless on my part to continue as they (the aspirants) do not like me and therefore, I submit my resignation.” He said it was a matter of self-respect for him.

Minutes after the resignation, Prof. Kishore served a notice after a talk with AP Study Circle (Hyderabad) Director N. Dasaratharami Reddy to shut down the APSC in the city for students admitted for extension batch of November 2007 to August 2008, vacate the hostel and take their certificates from the office.

Later, Prof. Reddy retracted his instructions and issued revised orders to serve food in the mess from next day and asked S. Tanuja Rani, Director of BC Study Circle to hold additional charge of APSC till further orders. The students were admitted for civil prelim coaching in November 2006. Later, they were enrolled for the extension batch. “We are not getting the opportunity to have classes by qualified faculty. As a result, our IAS dreams are shattered,” K. Anand, one among 23 aspirants sitting on fast-unto-death, said. The fast entered the fifth day on Sunday.

After her appointment, Prof. Tanuja Rani visited the study centre located near Circuit House and interacted with students. “She spoke to the State Director on Friday and promised to improve the amenities and solve the problem of faculty within 24 hours,” a student said.

However, the students said she decided not to take up the post due to lukewarm response from Hyderabad. The Government provides free lodging and food to the IAS aspirants. The study centre does not have a library and no effort is being made to shift to own promises in Rushikonda despite allotment of site there.

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