A section of students under the banner of Students Council in Pondicherry Central University on Thursday staged protest by locking the entry gate, demanding the administration to provide basic amenities on the campus.
From drinking water facility on the silver jubilee campus to proper instrumentation facilities in the Central Instrumentation Facility (CIF) and in all the department’s laboratories, they demanded to conduct counselling be conducted to fill the vacancies in all departments of the university.
Deepan Saranraj of Students Council said they had submitted a memorandum to the administration to fill the vacancies in July as soon as the third counselling was over but steps had not been taken to address this.
There are nearly 300 seats vacant in various departments in Pondicherry Central University.
The other demands include enhancing the sanitation and hygiene practices, provision of computer lab facilities for all departments, classroom and basic facilities for performing arts department, proper functioning of placement cell, adequate indoor and outdoor game facility and to always keep the gate no.1 open.
Action not taken
Mr. Deepan added that despite several representations to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, action had not been taken.
A student on condition of anonymity said that they had been requesting the administration to address the water problem. “The presence of chemical factories nearby has contaminated the water here. We want safe potable water,” said the student.
K. Mahesh, Assistant Registrar, Public Relations, Pondicherry University, said they had not received any memorandum from students. “However, we have already started addressing the issues which the students have raised now. We have eight reverse osmosis plants to provide purified drinking water and making alternative arrangements in places where complaints of water contamination is reported,” he said.
He added that the university had completed the open counselling apart and it would not be possible for another round of counselling. “But, we will look into this. All steps have been taken to provide good amenities for students,” he said.
The students took out a rally from the Gate II of the campus towards the Administration Block and again staged a demonstration in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office.
