Chennai: Over 60 students from various engineering colleges staged a protest in front of Anna University urging the university to take immediate action with regard to the recent student suicides, which they called ‘institutional murder’.
“Anna University management has not taken any steps against any of the murders, which are not suicides. This is our main demand for today’s protest,” said A.T. Kannan, joint president of Students Federation of India (SFI).
The colleges are not run democratically, he said. “Girls and boys are not allowed to speak to each other even if they want to discuss studies. This is not acceptable,” he said. G. Manikandan, a student from a reputed engineering college, said that as per the government Act of 1992, for SC/ST students the government would provide the fees. “But in rural areas the engineering colleges charge students,” he said.
Students also complained of improper infrastructure including laboratory facilities. For re-evaluation of answer scripts they charge exorbitant amounts. “In 2012, re-evaluation cost was Rs 150. This shot up to Rs 750 in 2014,” said a student.
Rubert Sabastian, a student from KCG College of Technology, said management also misbehaves with parents. If parents come for enquiries they are made to wait from morning to evening. “We have to go in formals to college. If not we are fined Rs 1,000. Admission fee in these colleges is Rs 40,000 but they charge Rs 70,000,” he said.
