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Students of Kolkata’s state-run Aliah University have been protesting for over 50 days. On my visit to Kolkata, I met these students to understand the reason for the protest.
Students say that there are several reasons behind their protest but one of the major reasons is a piece of land near the university's Park Circus campus.
On 27 August, the principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) wrote to the registrar on Aliah University requesting for the supply of a map of the land adjacent to both Aliah University’s Park circus campus and CNMC. Students say the land belongs to Aliah University and it shouldn’t be transferred to CNMC.
“A piece of land that belongs to our university, half of it is being given to an institute by the Minority Affairs & Madrasah Education Department (MAME). When Aliah University was established in 2008, this land was given to the Higher Education Department, which allotted the land to MAME for Aliah University. For the last two months, we have been hearing that the land is being given to CNMC (Calcutta National Medical College). The principal of CNMC has written to the registrar, referring to the meeting with the additional secretary of MAME, Obaidur Rehman, demanding the map of the land.”Mansoor Habibullah, Student
“On the piece of land, hostels were supposed to be made. There was also a proposal to build a multi-sporting complex and teachers’ quarters. The university sent several proposals to the MAME department (for the development), but to date, no action has been taken,” adds Mansoor.
Students allege that the MAME has not released enough funds from the allocated annual budget of the University which is turning out to be an obstruction for both running and developing the university.
"In this financial year, Rs 115 Cr was allocated to the university by the government. From the development fund, only Rs 13 Cr has been released to the university and the rest of the fund is yet to be received by the university. Because of this, the university’s development has completely stopped. Housekeeping staff, security guards are not getting their salaries regularly. For the last one-and-a-half years, the internet connection is also not working."Merajul Islam, Student
Students say that while MAME plans to transfer university’s land to CNMC, most of its own students don’t have hostel facilities and a lot has got to do with MAME not releasing total allocated funds.
“We don’t have a sufficient number of hostels here. In the Park Circus campus, the hostel facility is only available to the students of the nursing department, other general students don’t have the hostel facility. We aren’t getting a sufficient amount of money in our scholarships. Lab instruments over here are insufficient for the students and even the library doesn't have sufficient books,” says Naseema Khatoon, a student at the university.
Students say that they will continue to protest till MAME doesn’t clarify its stand on transfer of land to CNMC and releases the allocated fund to the university.
"We are demanding right now (from MAME), forget about transferring the land, to execute the proposals submitted by the university and the students," says Mansoor.
(The Quint has reached out to the Ministry of Minority Affairs & Madrasah Education Department, Government of West Bengal, on the issue. Their response will added once received.)
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