Two students in hospital but ABVP continues protest in University of Hyderabad for better hostel facilities

The University, on Wednesday, had said that the demands of the students were being looked at and are at different stages of completion
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: PTI)
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: PTI)

A day after two protesting students of the ABVP unit of the University of Hyderabad were shifted to a private hospital on the third day of the hunger strike, five more students have taken over the hunger strike on Thursday. Despite police action, the students said that they were going to continue with their hunger strike until all their demands were met.

Meanwhile, the University, on Wednesday, had said that the demands of the students were being looked at and are at different stages of completion.The university said that the roti making machine would be repaired in a week, while new RO plants will be installed/repaired within 15 days as would be the installation of the generator in the LH-9 hostel. Students had also demanded the removal of LH-9 warden who has submitted her resignation but her resignation is still pending. The ABVP said that the hunger strike would continue on Friday. 

The University in a statement, released on Wednesday said that the administration is aware of some of the maintenance problems in the hostels and various administrative processes are already under way to address them. "Unfortunately, the students have suddenly decided to apply unreasonable pressure on the administration to resolve all matters within 24 hours. Various wings of the administration are coordinating their efforts to resolve these issues at the earliest," read the statement. 

The administration further added that the students are making wrong claims on social media that no officer of the University visited them since the protest began on August 27, 2019 around 8 pm. "The same evening, the Chief Warden, Deputy Chief Wardens, and the Dean, Students’ Welfare (DSW) visited them and assured them that all outstanding issues would be resolved," the university said. "Further, the DSW and the Chief Warden requested the presence of unit heads, including the Registrar, Deputy Registrar (Security), Director of Computer Network Facility, Executive Engineer (accompanied by his team) who addressed the students on each of the demands put forth by the protesting students," added the statement..

According to the administration, the Medical Officer of the University Health Centre had visited the protesting students and repeatedly urged them to get their vital parameters checked but they kept refusing. Finally, upon the urging of the DSW and the CW, they allowed medical personnel to check their vital parameters on Wednesday.

The police, the university said, were informed since there was no prior notice by the protesting students about the indefinite hunger strike. The police also monitored their health with the help of government doctors. When the police were convinced that their health was on the decline, they were shifted to Citizens’ Hospital on August 28, at around 6.45 pm.

The administration claimed that they have clarified to the students on more than one occasion that mess facilities in a couple of hostels was stoppd because of acute shortage of staff. The university is constrained to maintain a certain proportion of non-teaching staff as prescribed by the UGC. "However, steps have been taken to ensure that no boarder goes without mess facility. On the incentives for Mess Secretaries, the previous system has been restored as requested by various student groups. Other issues regarding the hostels pointed out by the students have already been taken note of and work to rectify them is already in progress. The Registrar has assured the students that a more systematic monitoring of housekeeping would be put in place at the earliest possible," said the university. "All hostel rooms have wired internet connectivity. As and when adequate funds are granted to the university, we will make all efforts to provide WiFi connectivity. Work on laying cables for generator connections to additional hostels is in progress after following due processes," read the statement.

The university administration appealed to the concerned students to call off their hunger strike immediately. "We would like to assure them that the institution has taken cognisance of the issues raised by them and is involved in addressing them at the earliest," they added.

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