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V-C fails to pacify agitating nursing students

BERHAMPUR: The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the Berhampur University, B.K.Sahu on Saturday failed to motivate the agitating students of the Government Nursing College in the city to end their strike. The agitating students also locked up their principal inside their hostel for some time.

The nursing students continued their agitation and kept their institute locked up for the third day. They had ransacked portions of their hostel and institute on August 6 night following disappearance of a failed student of third year. The students are now demanding the removal of their principal and say they would think of ending their agitation only after the missing girl Itirekha Mallik returned back to the institute.

On Saturday morning the V-C reached the institute to hold discussions with the agitating girls. On Friday it was decided that a delegation of the students and the principal would meet the V-C in his office. But the V-C preferred to come over to the spot of agitation of the students. But he failed to persuade the students to end their strike and lock up of the institute. He however agreed to take steps so that the examinations of the degree course in nursing offered by the institute could be held in time and its results could be out within 55 days. The principal of the nursing college, Amrita Lenka however did not prefer to take part in the discussion between the V-C and the agitating students. “She intentionally preferred to keep away from the meeting,” alleged Swapna Samuel, a student leader.

The principal reached the institute only after the V-C left the campus and said she did not want to say anything to the V-C in the presence of the students. The angry students locked her up inside their hostel for some time. Heated discussion continued between her and the students in the presence of some faculty members.

At last the principal was released from the hostel when she gave a written promise that no student would be failed in practical papers. “Earlier students have been failed for one mark in their practical papers and the recent promise of the principal proves that students were being failed intentionally in these papers,” said a student, Sabita Kes.

“But we all students have decided not to let the institute function till the missing student returned back,” said Swapna. According to the authorities had reached her home in Kalahandi district. They have also decided to stick to their demand regarding the removal of the principal.

It may need the interference of the Directorate of Medical Education and Training to get the institute reopened, felt the faculty of the college.

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