Varsity students vow to continue stir over hostel allotment

The students of Presidency University, who had been holding an indefinite sit-in for the past 51 hours over hostel accommodation, took part in a convention today, vowing not to withdraw the stir till their demands were met.

The group of 70 protesters had been seeking room allotment at a hostel, which is currently undergoing renovation.

They claimed that two of the six blocks at Hindu Hostel is ready for occupancy, even as the university for the students only after the renovation work is complete.

The Presidency agitation comes weeks after another similar protest by the students of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital over hostel accommodation.

The medical students resorted to a hunger strike last month to put pressure on the authorities, which finally gave in to their demands.

At the convention today, Ujan, a spokesman of the agitators and member of Independent Consolidation (IC) students' union, said a former principal of the college had expressed solidarity with the agitating students.

He also claimed that around 150 students, including those from Jadavpur University, attended the meet to render support to the protesters.

"We know that two blocks of the Hindu Hostel have already been renovated and, hence, should be handed over to the outstation boarders immediately," he said.

Besides IC, members of Students' Federation of India and outstation students, not directly affiliated to any union, were also taking part in the agitation, Ujan claimed.

"The students have brought pillows and mattresses to the campus building for the sit-in. They have not left the campus even for bathing or food," he said, adding that the university authorities were "not sensitive" to their situation.

An official at the university said the 70 students had been protesting outside the registrar's office since 2 pm on August 3, but they were not holding back any of the officials on the campus.

In a statement, Vice chancellor Anuradha Lohia had earlier said that it would take another four to five months to make Hindu Hostel "habitable and safe for students".

The hostel adjoining the College Street institution was shut down for repairs on July 29, 2015, and 150 boarders were shifted to a rented accommodation at New Town, which is around 18km from the university.

The agitators claimed that the university authorities had gone back on their promise of renovating the hostel by July 15 and throwing it open to the students on August 1.

They cited distance and conveyance as reasons for missing out on classes.

A spokesman at Presidency said the hostel was in a dilapidated state with plaster peeling off the walls and ceilings.

The VC, however, was not available for comment.