KASARAGOD: Almost one month after the 16 families who were evicted during the land acquisition for Central University of Kerala (CUK) staged protests by threatening to commit suicide in the University’s newly constructed Women’s hostel, the CUK has made it clear that no promises were made at any stage of the negotiations about offering jobs to the members of evicted families.
In a release on the issue, the CUK said that implementation of the rehabilitation package for the families at Periye Malathumpara Colony was the responsibility of the state government and the university was only acting as a nodal agency. The colony residents threatened suicide on October 6 at the newly opened students’ hostel building accusing the varsity of cheating them by denying the jobs promised.
Uduma MLA K Kunhiraman also came out in support of the residents saying the CUK was cheating them by not calling them for talks and going back on the promise given by the former VC. He also warned of further protests. However the University has taken a stand that the work on the houses being constructed for the 16 families was progressing and by December, they would get the keys.
The compensation package was also increased by 50 percent during a reconciliation meeting convened by the Kasargod District Collector. “As a central government institute, we have our own limitations for implementing further demands,” said CUK Vice Chancellor Dr G Gopakumar. With the University clarifying that no more demands can be approved, the campus may witness further protests in the coming days.
