A week into the protests, the students at Azim Premji University stand at crossroads with the management. The students have been protesting against the imposition of an exorbitant fee of ₹8,500 per semester for shuttle bus service for the first-year students residing in the KGA residence of the university. However, the meeting with Vice Chancellor which was supposed to solve the matter has not worked out for them.
What did the VC say?
Indu Prasad, VC Of APU
A delegation of students went to the VC to hand over the memorandum. The sources reported that the VC without even reading the memorandum said that we stand firm on our decision and that the shuttle fees will not be revoked. The VC also warned the students that if they don’t stop protesting they’ll be compelled to use force to move the protest outside.
Hunger Strike Begins
The students further requested the VC to address the students to which she reverted that she will get back by Thursday. Considering this attitude of the management, the students have resolved that they will be undertaking an indefinite hunger strike until the shuttle fee is revoked. The hunger strike begins today, i.e 22 Feb 2023.
The story in a nutshell
The shuttle services were started last year after the student demanded safer transport services between the campus and university-provided hostels and additional security near the external residences. The bus service was demanded by the students due to cases of sexual harassment being reported on that route. But now the shuttle service has become a bone of contention as an exorbitant fee of ₹8,500 per semester for shuttle bus service for the first-year students residing in the KGA residence of the university.
“Our seniors had demanded the shuttle bus services as there were cases of sexual harassment on the roads around the university campus. The campus is located in the remotest area possible and the road is also very unsafe as there are no street lights and you cannot go out after dark,” reported a first-year postgraduate student from Azim Premji University.
