Governor acts as DMU students launch stir
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, July 09 2024:
Students of Dhanamanjuri University (DMU) have launched relay hunger strike from Tuesday after the government failed to consider their demand for appointing full-time vice chancellor and registrar in lieu of the present 'incompetent' VC and registrar even as Governor Anusuiya Uikey advised minister and officials concerned to address grievances of the students at the earliest possible.
Under-graduate, post-graduate and PhD students took part in the hunger strike on the first day held at the western (Thangmeiband) gate of the university.
DMU Students' Union president Irom Dimocha told media persons on the sidelines of the protest that the agitation launched by the students is democratic and peaceful as they have no intention of creating ruckus.
However, it was very unfortunate that large numbers of RAF personnel were deployed inside the DMU campus even before the protest demonstration started and such action was condemnable.
Instead of going forward, DMU is regressing compelling many to apprehend spoilage of their career due to administrative incompetency.
Undergraduate students have already began registration for continuing their studies in other universities after appearing the Central University Entrance Test whereas DMU authority is yet to issue mark sheets consequently compounding miseries of the students, he said.
According to Dimocha, students of DMU had already apprised state government for replacing the incumbent VC and the registrar and appointing full-time VC and registrar instead but the government has remained adamant and yet to act on points mentioned in the memorandum submitted in this regard.
DMU is now almost ownerless as both the VC and the registrar fail to perform their duties efficiently, he alleged, while adding that the relay hunger strike will continue until their demands are fulfilled.
The agitating students, however, were later dispersed by police by firing tear gas shells.
Meanwhile, Governor Anusuiya Uikey on Tuesday convened a meeting with education minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh, chief secretary Dr Vineet Joshi and education commissioner H Gyan Prakash and discussed the issues pertaining to the administration and development of DMU.
In a release, PRO Raj Bhavan conveyed that the Governor enquired about the issues faced by the students in the absence of a regular vice chancellor and a registrar, apart from seeking information on status of joining of teaching and non-teaching staff.
The release also mentioned that education minister Th Basanta, while briefing the Governor, said that the results of the examinations will be declared soon and assured that steps for nomination of a UGC member for appointment process of a new VC will soon be initiated.
On the other-hand, the chief secretary informed the Governor that process for recruitment of a new VC is in progress and advertisement for the same will be issued shortly.
Arrangement for appointment of a new registrar is also on, he added.
The Governor asked them to expedite ways to sort out all issues pertaining to the students and teaching community as well as to accelerate the process of new recruitment including the VC.
The Governor also enquired about the status of students of various colleges living in relief camps and asked the chief secretary for taking up necessary steps for them.
She also enquired about the implementation of NEP-2020 in the universities and colleges in the state.
The Governor then directed them to organise regular meetings of all central, state and private universities in the state at Raj Bhavan, the release further mentioned.
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