JNU students take to the streets to protest against government plans to cut funds to colleges
JNU students take to the streets to protest against government plans to cut funds to colleges
It seems Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's charms have failed to impress the Left; at least not at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
On Thursday, within a few days of Gandhi's much publicised visit, the Left-dominated students union of JNU took to the streets to protest against the decisions of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.
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They were protesting against fees hikes, withdrawal of hostel subsidies, cut in University Grants Commission (UGC) funds for colleges and levying of user charges on various services in the campus by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD).
At the dharna, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU) demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular issued on September 12 by the MHRD, directing fund cuts at the university. "It is a direct attempt to commercialise the public-funded higher education institutes and shut their doors for common students. In the name of austerity, universities are being asked to undertake a 10-per cent cut in non-plan expenditure. In addition, the UGC is suggesting a 55-per cent cut in non-plan expenditure," said Sandeep Singh, president of JNUSU.u00a0
Several students from Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi University also joined the protest.
"The present offensive on higher education is being sold under the garb of austerity. To all those who are preaching the virtues of austerity to the country, we would like to reiterate that education is not an extravaganza like staying in five-star hotel. It is a fundamental right of every citizen. The education sector is by no stretch of imagination flooded with funds and prone to unnecessary extravaganza," said Pallavi Deka, general secretary of JNUSU.
As the leaders spoke, many students could be seen voicing their dissent against the government policy.u00a0
u00a0"JNU cannot be reduced to another IIT or IIM, where through regular fee hikes the government has restricted education to a select, super-rich section of society. The real problem is not lack of funds, but misplaced priorities," said Izhar Arman, a JNU student.
In a memorandum submitted to the MHRD, JNUSU said
Rs 15,429 crore
Is the amount higher education received in the Budget of Rs 10.21 lakh crore for 2009-10. This is a mere 1.5 per cent. Defence, on the other hand, received 16.3 per cent (Rs 1.67 lakh crore).
10 per cent
Is the gross enrolment ratio in higher education in India, as opposed to the global average of approximately 26 per cent
Spend more on education because
>>The per student annual expenditure on higher education in India is one of the lowest in the world, far lower than China, Indonesia and the Philippines
>>India's expenditure on education is one of the lowest in the world
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