Unseasonal showers accompanied by squall has not been able to dampen the spirit of eight students, who are on an indefinite hunger strike at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST) campus in protest against non deputation of regular Director,   which entered its third day on Saturday.

The situation took on a new turn today when four persons were hospitalized after their health deteriorated, including an electrical engineering- 3rd year student, Debalina Roy who suffered a  bout of dizziness and were  taken to the nearest hospital for check-ups by an ambulance on stand-by.

However paying no heed to doctor’s warning of serious health consequences, Roy returned within hours and rejoined the rest of the protesters. Eight more students joined the fast, out of which four are females till filing of this report in the evening.

While students are adamant not to return to their classes until a written assurance is served, it is the parents who are feeling the pain.

“We are worried about our child’s health condition and our only wish is for their safety,” these words were on the lips of most of the worried yet proud mothers before they left the campus.

“We are more determined than ever to continue our struggle and won't take any food until the government comes with written assurance,” said the students while affirming to go to any extent even ready to give their lives for the cause.

"Health of other students on hunger strike is also deteriorating rapidly. But we will not succumb to mere lip service or fake promises this time and more will join if required,” said SUN, NERIST, President, B Natung.

"It has been the 3rd day of the indefinite hunger strike and still the Ministry remains unmoved despite seeing all this," said Natung. He alleged that silence of concern leaders at the Centre in this situation clearly shows the level of apathy towards one of the prestigious institutes in the whole Northeast.

"We are tired of hollow promises made by political leaders in the past. And if situation continues to be like this and MHRD fails to appoint a director before Tuesday then we will apply other methods of protest too,” he divulged. 

Moreover acknowledging the health concerns raised by  parents of those agitating students, Natung said “we will continue the hunger strike, but in a relay mode from Sunday so that parents wouldn’t have to live in fear for their child's health.”

Sources in NERIST told this daily that the students may resort to create blockades in the NH-415 outside the institute campus if Centre fails to depute a director within next Tuesday as promised earlier. 

 With no assertion coming in written form from the Ministry despite an announcement  by state BJP, chief to depute a director within one week’s time , the students on Saturday also adopted a resolution not to allow any political leaders to either talk or enter into the institution  campus until issue is resolved itself by concern MHRD.

Another student on anonymity said, "If the government really  cared about us then they would had deputed a director month's back as demand is not a new one and students wouldn't have to go this far.”  He also informed that their final examination is slated to be held from second week of March as per institute’s academic calendar.

Also displaying their anger, the agitating students burned effigies of Union Minister for MHRD, Prakash Javadekar along with Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju at the campus on Friday. On the same day, a mass protest rally from NERIST campus to Bage Tinali was carried out which was participated by more than a thousand students from other colleges including universities.

Leaders of AVBP, AAPSU, and RGUSU, NSUI along with others were also present on the day and extended their full support to the cause.

 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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