KOZHIKODE: The students of Central University of Kerala (CUK) at Periye here on Tuesday launched a novel protest, ‘Student Refugee Movement,’ demanding adequate accommodation facilities on the campus. They have decided not to go back to hostels and stay back in the classrooms from Tuesday night onwards. The girl students stayed back in their respective departments on the three campuses of the varsity- Kasargod and Padannakkadu apart from the main campus at Periye-- on Tuesday night. The students of Kuniya campus also joined others on the Periye campus.
Nearly 100 students at Padannakkadu and 80 at Kasargod are participating in the protest. They have also informed Kasargod MP P. Karunakaran about the issue. The university had recently increased the number of seats in various courses without ensuring enough hostel facilities for the new students. The university also refused to heed the students who brought up the issue even before the admission process started. The students alleged that Vice-Chancellor Dr G. Gopakumar met them only after they protested in front of his chamber. Dr Gopakumar refused to meet the parents over the issue though they were made to wait for hours on Friday, causing chaos in the office.
Students’ representative Visakh Viswambaran told DC that the V-C had taken a negative attitude to their demands. “The governing council decided to increase the number of seats without ensuring proper accommodation. They have the responsibility to arrange facilities to the students. Finding private hostels and houses in a place like Periye is difficult and those from backward families cannot afford it,” he added. The university had earlier directed the students who hail from nearby areas to vacate the hostels, but had to call off the move when they went on an agitation. The V-C and the dean were unavailable for comments.
