Odisha students end strike against Agra institute management

Striking students from Odisha returned to their classes on Saturday after three days of demonstrations against the Central Hindi Institute management.

The Central Hindi Institute is a premier educational arm of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development, catering to students from 30 odd countries, including China. The growing popularity and global demand for Hindi teachers has necessitated standardisation of course material and teaching methods.

Students from Odisha who have enrolled this session for a Hindi teaching course have been protesting for past three days, braving rain to demand firm assurance that they would get jobs after completing the 'Praveen' diploma course.

The agitating students alleged that the institute authorities treated them roughly to pressure them into submission. More than 70 students sat on the road and raised slogans.

The Registrar Chandra Kant Tripathi told IANS Saturday: "The institute is offering a number of courses for Hindi learners from all over the world and has done pioneering services to popularise Hindi language. The allegations of the striking students bear no substance. Our courses are recognised by the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE), the national regulatory body. Over the years, thousands of students have benefited from the courses offered."

"The agitators were forcing me to give in writing that they would secure jobs in Odisha after completing the course, but that is beyond our powers. It is for the state government to consider their demands," Tripathi added.

Institute director Nand Kishore Pandey said to ensure safety of foreign students and students from different parts of the country, a security system is in place and no one would be allowed to breach the guidelines.

Student leaders however continued to remain defiant and have been sending out memorandums and protest letters to the central government, including the Prime Minister's Office.

--IANS

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