Students from Jawaharlal Nehru University went into protest after a proposed increase in accommodation fees for university student housing.
Increased fees in Jawaharlal Nehru University
One of India’s most prestigious university is now paralyzed after thousands of students are staging a protest. Students from Jawaharlal Nehru University are voicing out their objection against the school’s new policy on increasing fees for the university’s board and lodging.
It is almost a month now since students began the protest against accommodation fees in the university. Students went through numerous physical altercations against the police during different demonstrations. Many students were hospitalized during these clashes.
Hike in accommodation fees
The proposed hike in accommodation fees by the university is such a blow-off from the new rates. Based on the new proposed costs, students will now have to pay $50 yearly for campus housing accommodation, coming from a low of three dollars annually.
Aside from the increase in fees, electricity and building maintenance shall be collected from students monthly.
This is the reason why students are giving it all on their protest. Many students will be significantly affected by the new scheme, especially those who are really financially incapable of paying for the latest fees or find another place to stay in.
These new rates are anti-poor. It is uncalled for a public university to disregard the economic status of its students.
Education in India
Jawaharlal Nehru University is a government-funded institution; it is known to be a center for teaching and quality education at a fraction of the cost compared to private institutions.
As a university for the people, why can’t they provide accessible accommodation for financially challenged students?
The high cost of private universities in India makes state universities like JNU very valuable for those who can’t afford college education from private sectors.
One of the students from JNU, Ali Javed, did a survey among the protestors participating in the uprising. According to him, around 42 percent of the participants fall below the annual household income of $2000, and others are just barely making the $2000 mark.
There are students here that walk to school, wear damaged shoes, do work shifts, to save as much money as they could so their families won’t suffer much from them having to go to school.
According to the JNU administration, this fee increase was prolonged.
It has been three decades since the fees were revised.
Over 60 percent of the students at Jawaharlal Nehru University are living inside campus housing. With the expected hike in fees, a lot of students will be forced to drop-out from school due to financial incapacity.
Featured image by SakalTimes
