Do not want degree from Nishank: IIT BHU students protest fee hike day before convocation

The students said that reason that the ministry presented for the increase of fees — drop out — is a very childish one and as a manner of protest, a section of them will not be receiving their degrees
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: PTI)
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: PTI)

Students of IIT BHU student group Students For Change will be protesting on campus a day ahead of the HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhrial "Nishank"'s visit to the campus for their convocation. This is part of a nationwide call for protest at IITs against the MHRD's decision to stop some of the stipends. Another major issue they are protesting for is the MTech fee hike of about 900 per cent that the department and its committees think will help get rid of the students who are not-so-serious. The protest is supposed to be held at 6 pm on November 7 at the Limbdi Corner on campus.

The students also said that they do not want their degrees from their hands of a minister who does not understand the importance of education and is constantly imposing a dictatorship on fees. The students of IIT Madras and Bombay have also expressed solidarity with their protest.

The students said that reason that the ministry presented for the increase of fees — drop out — is a very childish one. "If the students are dropping out, then the reasons for this should be thought out and the methods of teaching should be corrected and handled — not just by increasing the fees. While the quality of education has been continuously deteriorating at IITs, the system of research and the funds for it are being reduced every session," said Vandana, the Secretary of SFC. 

The IITs whose major workload should have been thought-provoking discoveries and development of technology for the basic needs of the society, said Vandana, are engaged in selling cheap labourers to multinational companies. "The research sector has been lagging behind due to lack of equipment in the departments and frequent research fund cuts — the students are getting discouraged," added Vandana. "IIT BHU recently announced that we will not get any institutional funding. We can study here only with the help of external funds like CISR and DST — they have removed the notice of admission for a few students as well. All decisions like fee hike, autonomy, research fund cut etc. show the intention of privatisation of education. They have had an eye on rail, education, health facilities, oil, research institute, everywhere for a long time now," she said. "This broker government wants to keep its pocket warm by selling everything to Adani, Ambani and America," she added.

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