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State steps in to end Ravenshaw deadlock

CUTTACK: As suggested by State Governor and Chancellor of Ravenshaw University M C Bhandare, the State Higher Education department on Saturday came out with a ‘reconciliation' formula to end the 10-day long impasse at Ravenshaw University over the contentious East Hostel accommodation issue.

However, as soon as the minutes of meeting were made public on Saturday, the striking university students rejected the formula outright reiterating that they would not yield to any proposal that included converting the heritage hostel into a girls' hostel.

Students firm

“We will continue to disrupt the university until the authorities allow boys only to occupy the East Hostel which had been the practice ever since the hostel was set up in 1921”, said a striking student Pratap Mohanty to a local TV channel.

It may be mentioned here that following the Chancellor's appeal to the illegal occupants to vacate the East Hostel and instead allow the girl students to occupy it, the academic activities of the university were completely paralysed after the striking students locked all the gates of the campus since October 28.

The Governor however in the meantime, had directed the varsity authorities to have wider consultations with all the stakeholders.

Stepping in to break the stalemate, the Higher Education department after consultation with various students' groups, intelligentsia and local legislators had decided that East Hostel would be allotted to girls.

It was also decided that the varsity would soon have two 400-seated hostels, one each for boys and girls and steps would be taken to start work for 200 seats in each by the end of January 2011.

The meeting also decided that 50 seats in West Hostel would be earmarked for general boys and over a period of time, the West Hostel which currently functions as School of Management would be converted into a general boys' hostel.

According to sources, it was learnt that the Governor would be requested to consider allowing the ex-boarders of East Hostel (3 {+r} {+d} Year students who were staying here prior to its renovation) to stay there till the end of current academic year.

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