After a three-day-long protest by the women hostellers of the Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, the management has finally accepted the students' demands. In a meeting conducted between the principal Dr Krishnakumari and the students, the in-time was extended to 8.30pm, as per the students' demands. A month back, the Kerala High Court Court rapped the regressive rules and curfew hours, after an alumna Anjitha Jose filed a petition for the same.
The college principal initially was initially not ready for to conduct a meeting with the students and wanted to take a decision only after discussing with the parents, even after the judgment said that the students are adults and do not need parental consent for decisions. This provoked the students, who launched a strike. "The new curfew rule will be implemented from Monday. The principal told us that she will only inform the PTA about it," says Salmath KP, a III year BA Political Science student. This was the last meeting conducted by Dr Krishnakumari, who retired on Friday.
Anjitha, the petitioner was elated to know the development. "I'm really happy. The students deserve all credits for this revolutionary change," she says, adding, "I was fighting this battle alone years back. Now, my juniors took it forward and I am happy that they get to enjoy the freedom that my batch never got."
Previously, the students were to enter the hostel premises by 4.30 pm and any delay would lead to the wardens calling their parents and asking them to apologize.