Central University Kerala students to occupy admin block

KOCHI: Students of Central University Kerala in Kasargod have threatened to occupy the administrative block of the campus on Wednesday as part of their protest demanding a cut in the hostel fees and an exemption for girl students.

The students, who have been on an agitation since Monday, also raised the issue of distribution of scholarships and waiver of transportation fees. “Other central universities charge Rs 100 per month as hostel fee and exempt physically challenged, SC/ST students and girls,” said CUK Students Union president Jithin Raj. “But here the hostel fee is Rs 3,000 per semester.”

The university charges Rs 600 as transportation costs per girl student from hostel to the campus. “This is unfair as it is not our mistake that the hostel is 17 km away from the campus,” Muhamad Mirash, a first-year student of MA Linguistics, said.
“Initially, the hostel fee was collected from SC/ST students as well, which was stopped after protests,” says Sruthi TK, SFI unit secretary and a first year MSc Mathematics student.

“The university also threatens to cancel the merit-cum-means scholarship from next academic year.” Apart from SFI the agitation is supported by Ambedkar Students Association, NSUI, Progressive Students Association, MSF and Bhagat Singh Front.

The vice-chancellor has given the students no reply other than telling them the issue will be raised in the finance committee meeting to be held on March 18 and 19, the students union president said.