Students from various State-run educational institutions staged a novel demonstration by sweeping the main road near the Collectorate here on Monday to protest against the alleged delay of the State government in releasing scholarships and funds for fee reimbursement, besides addressing several long-pending issues.
Holding banners and placards, the student activists marched towards the Collectorate in a rally from Pavilion Grounds as part of ‘Chalo Collectorate’ strike call given by the SFI district committee to press its charter of demands.
As soon as the rally reached the Collectorate, some of the activists tried to barge into the complex, but were stopped by the police at the main gate.
Wielding brooms, a group of demonstrators cleaned the main road in front of the Collectorate. Later, the protesters gathered at the Dharna Chowk and staged a demonstration.
Their main demands include introduction of mid-day meal scheme in government junior colleges, hike in allowances, mess and cosmetic charges for inmates of the State-run hostels, release of pending scholarships and distribution of uniforms to all schoolchildren, and upgradation of infrastructure facilities in the State-run schools and colleges across the district.
WARANGAL URBAN DT Special Correspondent adds: Scores of students affiliated to Students’ Federation of India (SFI) laid seize to the Collectorate on Monday demanding that the State government resolve issues haunting the education sector. Addressing the gathering, SFI State vice-president Naresh Yadav said nearly 25,000 teacher posts, 750 Mandal Educational Officer (MEO) posts and 20 District Educational Officer (DEO) posts have been lying vacant and the State government has not filled them yet. “In the name of rationalisation, nearly 4,000 government schools have been closed down in the State, thus depriving education to the poor and backward sections,” he alleged. He demanded that the government release the pending scholarships and fee reimbursement funds immediately. The SFI leaders wanted the government to enhance the mess and cosmetic charges of the students of residential schools and hostels. “The government must take steps to construct own buildings for the hostels and residential schools and also take up repairs to the old hostel buildings,” the SFI leaders said.
SFI urban district secretary Bashaboina Santhosh, Kakatiya University secretary Veerabhadram and others took part in the protest.
NIZAMABAD Special Correspondent adds: The SFI activists staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate on Monday demanding the introduction of midday meal scheme in government junior colleges and clearance of pending dues to agencies that provide midday meal at schools. Addressing the gathering, SFI State secretary P. Soory said the quality of the meal provided at schools was substandard.
Earlier, police foiled their attempt to enter the Collectorate premises to meet the Collector. They squatted before the main gate when a group of protesters were allowed to meet the Collector, M. Ram Mohan. The student representatives submitted a memorandum to him on the occasion.
