Azim Premji University students’ protest crosses a week, hope to meet VC tomorrow – Times of India
Monday marked day eight of the indefinite protest by students of Azim Premji University students at Sarjapur, a section of who are asked to cough up Rs 8500 per semester for shuttle (bus) services from the hostel to the university.
The hostel shuttle buses run at least 10 times a day, say students, to two accommodations that the university provided outside its campus. Only one set of students are given the hostel accommodation on campus.
However, among those accommodated in hostels outside, just one batch of students from one of the hostels have been imposed the shuttle fee, they said. These are the first year post graduate students of King George Avenue hostel, the pathway to which is said to be unsafe for students.
When TOI asked for a response to the student’s protest, the university officials declined to comment. “Azim Premji University has no comments to offer at this point,” they said in an official statement.
“The university did not mention about the fees when we joined and then sent us a letter about it,” said the students, who were upset over the arbitrary charging of fees from just one set of students for the safety that the university is responsible.
“The university has informed the UGC that there will be no hidden cost imposed, but we were made to pay this,” said a first year student who has been on protest for the past week.
A 100 percent scholarship student said it was difficult to pay and there was no clarity on whether they too had to pay till late. “Students who were made to do assistantship at the library, had a deduction in their payment towards the shuttle fees. Students were also made to pay a Rs 5000 deposit which was to be refunded when classes started. However that too was used for shuttle fees,” said a student.
Another student said that there was another shuttle that went from the university to the main road — police station — and was used by faculty too but there was no fees charged for that.
Protesters created some noise on campus to gain the attention of the authorities, who they said have been unresponsive till late. The sound of hand-drums and chants of ‘shuttle fees down down’ became a common occurance at the campus.
Students said they were assured an audience with the vice chancellor for Tuesday evening, and are looking forward to it. In the meantime, they attend classes, and sit at the protest site, sloganeering and with placards, and sleeping at the hinge area of the university (the protest site).
A couple of students are said to have fallen ill and taken to the nearby hospital following incidents of fever.
In their manifesto that they look forward to present to the VC, students have demanded a blanket waiver of the shuttle fees, refund shuttle fees that have been deducted from students, acknowledgment of the memorandum with 250 signatories submitted to the university, following of UGC guidelines and engaging the student body more proactively in the policy-making process.
The hostel shuttle buses run at least 10 times a day, say students, to two accommodations that the university provided outside its campus. Only one set of students are given the hostel accommodation on campus.
However, among those accommodated in hostels outside, just one batch of students from one of the hostels have been imposed the shuttle fee, they said. These are the first year post graduate students of King George Avenue hostel, the pathway to which is said to be unsafe for students.
When TOI asked for a response to the student’s protest, the university officials declined to comment. “Azim Premji University has no comments to offer at this point,” they said in an official statement.
“The university did not mention about the fees when we joined and then sent us a letter about it,” said the students, who were upset over the arbitrary charging of fees from just one set of students for the safety that the university is responsible.
“The university has informed the UGC that there will be no hidden cost imposed, but we were made to pay this,” said a first year student who has been on protest for the past week.
A 100 percent scholarship student said it was difficult to pay and there was no clarity on whether they too had to pay till late. “Students who were made to do assistantship at the library, had a deduction in their payment towards the shuttle fees. Students were also made to pay a Rs 5000 deposit which was to be refunded when classes started. However that too was used for shuttle fees,” said a student.
Another student said that there was another shuttle that went from the university to the main road — police station — and was used by faculty too but there was no fees charged for that.
Protesters created some noise on campus to gain the attention of the authorities, who they said have been unresponsive till late. The sound of hand-drums and chants of ‘shuttle fees down down’ became a common occurance at the campus.
Students said they were assured an audience with the vice chancellor for Tuesday evening, and are looking forward to it. In the meantime, they attend classes, and sit at the protest site, sloganeering and with placards, and sleeping at the hinge area of the university (the protest site).
A couple of students are said to have fallen ill and taken to the nearby hospital following incidents of fever.
In their manifesto that they look forward to present to the VC, students have demanded a blanket waiver of the shuttle fees, refund shuttle fees that have been deducted from students, acknowledgment of the memorandum with 250 signatories submitted to the university, following of UGC guidelines and engaging the student body more proactively in the policy-making process.
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