NIT calm, several demands of outstation students met

Peace returned to NIT here today as its authorities met several demands of the outstation students, like relaxation on their movement and celebrating of festivals, in a bid to defuse the tension that has been prevailing on the campus for over 10 days, officials said.
However, the demand for shifting the institute out of Kashmir has been rejected.
"We have issued formal orders for the implementation of many of the demands raised by the students during their meeting with the team of MHRD (Ministry of HRD) and Chairman, Board of Governors of NIT Srinagar," Registrar, NIT Srinagar, Fayaz Ahmad Mir told PTI today.

He said the accepted demands include abolishing the pass system for students' movement which the students had termed as "restrictive".
"Girl students have complained that the timing of their movement to and from hostels has been restrictive. They also complained about prevailing pass system, which is a hindrance for them," he said, adding it has been decided that the pass system be immediately removed.
"The timing of moving to and from hostels be relaxed, for which a detailed notice has been issued by the administration," reads an order issued by the Registrar.

The NIT administration has also decided that students will not need to obtain permission to celebrate festivals at the campus.

The administration of the institute has also taken note of other complaints related to mess, cleanliness, geyser, inadequately equipped laboratories, classrooms, rude behavior of staff and alleged discrimination in evaluation put forth by the students in their meeting with MHRD team.
"The issues will be placed in the meeting of Board of Governors, which is scheduled on April 11 and a time-bound action will be taken under supervision of the Board," the order said.
Mir said the students had raised those demands with Jammu and Kashmir's Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh as well.
"We were in the process of meeting these demands otherwise as well, but now we have issued the formal orders for the same," he said.

However, as per the Ministry of HRD, the demand to shift the NIT from Srinagar cannot be agreed upon, he said.
On the apprehensions about grading, expressed by the students due to the present situation, the order said the administration has decided to address such issues on priority as per "Students Grievance Redressal System" already notified in the campus.
Meanwhile, the campus was calm this morning even though there were protests late last evening when "about 100-150 outstation students roamed around in a procession," the Registrar said.
He said the NIT administration, the team of MHRD and chairman Board of Governors of NIT Srinagar met the protesting students asking them to end their protests as most of their demands were met.

"They continued their protests for some time last night, but it is calm this morning. Let us hope the situation gets back to normal sooner," Mir said.