|
India Thinkers Net Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
| << August10, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]Arjun dares RSS, says its philosophy killed Gandhi |
August12, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]RR men 'shoot' mentally-ill villager >> |
|
The BJP is out of power at Centre ASSAULT ON EDUCATION IN GUJARAT- India HAILTHE STUDENTS' MOVEMENT OF MS UNIVERSITY, BARODA THE FASCIST ATTITUDE OF BJP GOVT. The BJP is out of power at Centre. Suffered a severe setback in the last LokSabha in Gujarat. The contradictions, bickering inside the State BJP surfaced nakedly with the expectation that Modi may be removed from the C.M. post. But the RSS lobby managed to stall the crisis for the time being. The Godhra hearings are unfolding the truth one after another and proving the fact of connivance of the Govt. machinery in the carnage. Day by day BJP and RSS are loosing their credibility. More the Sangha Parivar is pushed to the wall, the Sangh Parivar and its outfits are becoming more and more fascistic in every aspect of Governance and the administration. They do not know how to honor the democratic norms. It is creating an impression that what ever may happen in the rest of the country but the SanghaParivar and it's outfits are untouched or unfazed ones in Gujarat. They want to show that they are invincible in Gujarat and are even able to start another riot in Veraval of Junagarg district. The discontent of the peasants over the Electricity was one of the major factors of its defeat in the rural areas of Gujarat in the last LokSabha Poll. But it is still taking same anti - peasants' position on the question of Elecrticity.The agitating peasants are still aggrieved. But the BJP Govt. is refusing to budge an inch. Naturally the BJP party has been groomed itself by spreading the virus of communalism. It only understands one language that is false sense of patriotism and communalism. They fail to understand the people's problems. Whenever there is a democratic movement their fascistic characteristics comes to fore. More over they have always tried to be close to the World Bank, IMF policies of liberalization and their ideal is imperialist America. EDUCATION IN MESS- A PLAY GROUND OF MARKET FORCES Education is totally in mess in Gujarat. From the start of the academic year the text books school students were not available. There were big quese of the parents and the students to get books. The school textbooks are printed by the Govt. of Gujarat. The high level corruption was unearthed in different schools. The embarrassed education Minister Ms. Anandibehn Patel transferred the officials those who were doing the clean up operation of corruption. Admission time is the time of the anarchy. Taking the advantage of the Supreme Court the corporate houses those who have entered the field of education are out to reap profit. That is what the students are experiencing in the self-finance medical and Engineering colleges. These profit seekers of education are getting the full backing of the Govt. and the Universities. Even the corporate houses have all the capabilities to manipulate the Judiciary. The Self Fianc?© institutes are creating havoc in the field of education. Starting from the KG - Primary school level to college, medical, engineering there are anarchy to the highest degree. The attitude of the Govt and the educational authority is not only to commercalise the education but adopt all kinds of undemocratic measures to suppress the voice of the aggrieved. The guardian knows most of the newly introduced rules, regulation and restriction during the admission time when they approach the counter. The helpless guardians and students have no option than to accept the dictates of the educational institutions under resentment Apart from it they pit one section another such that there won't be any united move of the sufferers and the concerned. The marketisation of the education has created a mentality among the guardians to grab the first opportunity in medical or Engineering or other faculties at any cost. The onslaught on education is in every field of education and it is an all out attack but there is a failure to launch united action. Those victims of the anarchy in primary or secondary education are unconcerned for self-finance of higher education or the recent crisis in Medical and engineerings. The fees are hiked every now and then in general schools and colleges. Often it is argued the rises of fees are very marginal ones and should not be opposed. The subsidization of education, which is the prime task of the Welfare State, is waning away. The pundits of education are going to the extent of that education should be cost to cost. The communalization of the society has broken all the democratic norms, values and spirit of the people here. Ironically the frequent drought, now the flood and the last killer earthquake too has broken the economic backbone having direct impact on the relative drop out of the students at all levels. The education cess imposed by the Central Govt. led by Congress is an additional burden on the people. The deliverance is yet to be seen. In fact the commercialization and the education cess is a twin attack on the people. The BJP is still pursuing it's hidden agenda and taking all fascist measures. Education is one of their core agenda. Ironically on the question of commercialization of Education BJP and Congress are in one opinion. Infact this commercialization, self finace, cost to cost education, banning students election, taking away the right of the University teachers, introduce religious education in the name of moral education is the brain child of National Education Policy, introduced during Rajeev Gandhi. Now Arjun Singh is the HRD minister and out to implement the NPE more firmly. The college teachers were declared surplus and the subjects of studies and colleges are closed through out the state. Where as the Self Finance colleges and schools are growing like mushrooms throughout the state. Similar to Congress Govt. the BJP govt. has nominated the hard-core RSS persons as the Vice Chancellor of all the Universities in Gujarat. These Vice Chancellors are instrumental in carrying forward the Hidden Agenda of Sangha Parivar in the Campus THE HEROIC STUDENTS MOVEMENT OF M.S.UNIVERSITY. Under this circumstances the students of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda are braving the torrenterial rain and are in hunger strike for last 15 days against the closure of the two hostels, M.M.Hall and LBS Hall. The University authority is going to close down these two hostels in the University. And evicting about 400 students. These 400 students may be accommodated in already crowded hostels like herds. There are 35,000 students in the campus. About 25,000 students are from the 20kms periphery of Baroda. About 10.000 come from other part of state and out side state. There are only 3.500 accommodations in the students' hostels. The criterion for the admission is made as per merit and quota allotted to different faculties. Every year most of the students are deprived of admission in the hostels and are compelled to go to caste based hostels run by caste trusts. There are 12 Boy's hostel and 4 Girl's hostels. Much before the beginning of the session i.e. in the month of May the University authority declared that two hostels are surplus and are going to be closed and asked the students to vacate the hostels, which the students relented. The University authority threatened the students of dire consequences. The students of the two hostels under the leadership of All India democratic Students Organisation made representations and took democratic measures two prevent the closure of the hostels. The University authority's decision to close the two hostels was hard to swallow. On the other hand there have been dire necessity to open two more boy's and one girl's hostel for last 10 years. Often Hostel Grants for fresh construction were allotted by UGC and other bodies but remain unutilized. The background of the movement At first the decision of the University to close down the hostels came as a rudest shock. Students could not dream that they have to vacate the hostels which they have made a second home. They refuse to believe that the University can go to the level of closing down the hostels. They never dreamt that the University authorities can go to the level of treating the students in most undignified manners. The University authority asked the security guards to throw away the students, hand over the hostels to the Police to vacate the students. Made false allegation against the students. The students were asked to report before the Police Station. The University authority is alleging that the students are in possession of arms, and ammunition and are goondas.Overnight the students became the goondas in the eye of the authority and handed them to the police. This very punitive action of the authority had a traumatic effect on the students. The Students made their representations to the Police Commissioner and the Collector. The fault of the students is perhaps they are pursuing the movement in a very peaceful and democratic ways. Till now no untoward incident of arson, looting, breaking the furnitures, a usual practice here in M.S.University by the patronized unions like ABVP or NSUI, has taken place. Perhaps the University is considering it as a weakness of the movement. Rather mischievously it is creating provocative situation where the students can indulge in violence paving the path to suppress the movement ruthlessly. To say the least, never before in the history of the students' movement in MS University the student movement has been so peaceful and democratic at least in last two decades. The students made representation one after another to the V.C., Ministry of HRD, Chief Justice of Supreme Court, Governor of Gujarat, Education minister of Gujarat, District Collector, Police Commissioner etc. Of course they made several delegation in signed memorandum by hundred of students to the V.C. and the Chief Warden of the Hostels and the syndicate members. They pleaded before them to be rationale one. But the university authorities showed no sign of raproachment. It was becoming crystal clear that the closures of the hostels are pre decided ones. A HIDEEN AGENDA IS THERE BEHIND THE CLOSURE. But the University authority was trying to convince the students that the closure is necessary for repair only. And after the repair the hostels will be opened. Again the authority was telling the media that the two hostels are excess and 400 students can be comfortably accommodated in other hostels. This is the exact thing they are doing and compelling the Hostel Wardens to admit more students in their respective Hostels that is similar to the Girls Hostels, where 4 to 5 girls are hoarded in a single room. Reluctantly the Wardens are putting the already crowded students in one room. This exercise is followed to prove the point that the two hotels are surplus. The authority wants to tell the media and it's mentor that by the closure of the hostels money can be saved. The closure of the hostels has raised eyebrows in the city THE ROLE OF CONCENED CITIZENS . A citizen panel made an enquiry of the rest 10 Hostels (where students are given admission this time and the about 400 students are to be removed). And found that they are over capacitated ones. The water is licking in most of the places through the cracks occurred at the time of earth quake in the year 2001. There is hardly any place to accommodate the tables and cupboards of the students after placing four to seven Palangs in the rooms. The electrical wires are hanging dangerously and here are all chances of electrocutions. The sanitary condition is equally bad. All are surprised why this desperateness to close the hostels and hoard the students in already crowded rooms. Rather the conditions of all the hostels should be improved which suits to its Grade 4 university status. The concerned citizens of Baroda came forward to plead the case of the students before the V.C. A delegation met the V.C The V.C. assured over face to look after the interest of the students and would take care police don't hurrahs them. On the same day police was called and the students were harassed. Again when the students went for Hungers strike. The leading citizens tried for the negotiation. But the authority was bent upon to close the two hostels. Whither the democratic functioning of the MSUniversity? As said the V.C.s are nominated from RSS in Gujarat, so also mostly the Syndicate members are from BJP or RSS background. The Senate body meeting is never called and almost defunct in all the University. The decisions are mostly taken from Gandhinagar, either from Narendra Modi or the Education Minister Anandibehn Patel. They overtly and covertly carry the RSS agenda. Same is the situation in MS University. The senate body is not called for years. The V.C. is shuttling between Delhi and Baroda. Most of the time he is not present here and hardly knows the affairs of the University. He is mostly (mis)guided by a coterie .In his two years tenure he has not visited a single hostels. Again the relative autonomy of the functioning of the Hostels administration has been replaced by the Centralised administration operating from a very well furnished office. The Hostel Wardens power has been drastically curtailed and there is hardly meeting of the wardens as per the rule of the University. There are so many measures for the democratic functioning of the University. Hardly those measures are followed. The relative autonomy is replaced by the autocracy. THE PATEINCE MAY RUN OUT From the month of May the students are pursuing to resist the closure of the hostels. The movement is peaceful and democratic. Staring from the giving deputation the student went for a massive signature campaign, staged demonstration before the V.C., wore black batches, went for total strike of the whole University inspite of the opposition of the ABVP and its hoodlums, marched to the coelenterate spiritedly, to submit memorandum to the beating the terrestrial rain, staged demonstration before the Syndicate for hours and did not budge inspite of police arrest and lath charge. 2000 hostel students did took launch in support of the movement. They made a representation to the Governor of Gujarat, Shri Naval Kishore Sharma. Who gave a patient hearing to the students' delegation. Now the students are in continuous Hunger strike for last 15 days inspite of the heavy rain. They our lying outside the Hostels under the tarpaulin THE HOSTEL LOCKED The locking phenomenon of hostel by the Hostel authority has been used as direct threat to evict the students. The LBS Hall is under the lock and key and the students all essential belongings like cloth, books are under the lock and key. The authority is reluctant to open the rooms and deliver their belongings until and unless they quite the LBS Hall This action of the authority has forced students out on lobbies of other hostels and wearing same cloth for days. The university authority went to the extent of CAVEAT from the local court so that students may not get a stay from the Court. In fact students do not have all the funds or resources to move to the court. To face legal battle is not so easy. Students do not have money for it. Again the University authority sent the letters of the caveat by post to the parents of the students. This created panicky in the villages. This was deliberately done to bring pressure on the students from the parents. The University authority did not refrain filing false cases against the students. THE REASON OF THE CLOSURE Till now it is not known why they are going to close the two hostels. It was decided from the month of May to close the hostels In the beginning the authority never said that it is going to be permanently closed. They said - After the repair of these two hostels it will be kept open -If excess students take admission then it will be opened again. -Wanted to convert it into a Girls Hostels (Within the Boys Hostel Campus, which was refused by the girls) The University authority has been misguiding. All the hostels need repair. There are cracks after the earthquake. There is seepage. The repair of the LBS hostel is only a pretext for public consumption. THE IILEGALS The university authority has circulated the news that the illegal are staying in the hostels. The so-called illegal is not outsiders like the anti-social but the students of M. S. University only. The students have refused to pay the enhanced fees by the authority. Instead of withdrawing the fees hike the university is creating a confusion that the movements is launched by the illegal There are few students waiting for the admission to the higher stream in the University and are staying in the hostels paying guest charge officially. Of course there are antisocial staying in the hostels but with the full knowledge of the University authority or with direct support of the powerful lobby of the University backed by the ruling Govt. in the state. THE FEES HIKE The fees hike has become a regular phenomenon. The all out fees hike is making it impossible for the student coming from ordinary economic back ground to pursue their studies. Day by day the subsidization is withdrawn . VARIOUS TYPE OF FEE PREVIOUS FEE (Rs.) AT PRESENT (Rs.) Development Fee (General course) 100/- 200/- Development Fee (Professional course) 250/- 500/- Library Service charge 00/- 50/- S.Y. BA Term Fee 345/- 745/- MA-II 345/- 745/- POLYTECHNIC ADMISSION FORM 40/- 100/- HOSTEL FORM FEE 10/- 50/- HOSTEL TERM FEE (3 SEATER) 350/- 500/-\ HOSTEL TERM FEE (2 SEATER) 400/- 700/- HOSTEL COMMON CHARGES 500/- 800/- BONAFIDE FORM 05/- 100/- AND OTHER TYPES OF FEE IS ALSO HIKED. The University authority is floating that Fees have not increased since many years in M.S. University. U form fee from Rs. 50 to Rs. 100 in this academic year. In crease of fee for S.Y.B.A. and M.A.-1 in this academic year. Tremendous increase of fee in home science faculty. This is the just tip of the iceberg information about fee-hike of any kind borne by the students in M.S.University. The University Authority should make public the total detail of fee hike under various heads THE MOTIVE The V.C. wants to open guest houses in the Hostel campus or to go for usual self financing profit making machinations to generate money out of self financing an easy ploy of the so-called person in chairs or authority like one the V.C. of MSU to please their Bosses at the higher level. Leasing out the educational institutional lands, educational buildings to Business houses, private limited companies has become a usual practice in Gujarat under BJP rule for last 7 years . THE PRECEDENT- LEASING OUT UNDER BJP RULE This leasing out the institution started 7 years back in Ahmedabad. A municipal school was leased out to one commercial institution, displacing 400 primary school children. There was wide scale protest. Even the ProfYashpal supported the cause. Almost all the eminent citizens joined the movement led by Sri Yashwant bhai Shukla, Sri Chunibhai Vaidya and Sri Prof. Devbrat Pathak. Renowned lawyers Girish Bhai Patel, Haroobhai Meheta fought the case in the high court with all zest. But the legal battle was lost. The so-called privatization , liberalisation had it's early echo in Gujarat and the judiciary followed the line. This was the first test case of BJP Govt. in leasing out the land, buildings. After this they started leasing out lands and intuitional building like a hurricane not in Gujarat but al other BJP ruled states. The land in South Gujarat University, Surat has been leased out to the business lobby. This leasing out has been done to grab the Govt. lands for the Sangha Parivar. Till now the MS University remain untouched. The closure of the hostels may be the beginning of the closing down other faculties and leasing out to their mentors. So the adamant attitude of the university is nakedly exposed inspite of students' resistence. This may be the TEST CASE here for M.S. University. THE ROLE OF ALL INDIA D.S.O. During BJP's rule in Gujarat, RSS have made a deep inroad into education, which is very alarming. Along with saffronisation they not only commercializing education but surrendering it to the corporate sectors making education costly, meaningless and devoid of morals and ethics. Absence of students, teaching community, guardians and concerned citizens to raise voice against onslaught on education is becoming difficult. But all along when All India Democratic Students' Organisation tried an all out effort to save education from an all-out attack starting from saffronisation, commercialization. Last year it launched a powerful movement against the commercialization of education with much success. Two years back it fought successfully against the payment seat in MS University. Sensing resistance from All India DSO the University Authority took measures to enhance the hostel fees, tuition fee and decided to close down two hostels when the University was under vacation. But All India DSO resisted this move of the University with handful of students during the summer vacation that has finally has taken the present shape of glorious movement and getting response from students, guardians, citizens. The media has been very supportive from the very beginning of the campaign and the movement. Now the movement is steered by The Hostel Students Action Committee CALL OF THE HOUR It is high time to resist this all out attack on education. Isolated resistances are easily crushed breeding hopelessness and frustration. Solidarity, fraternization and lending support to the movements is call of the hour. The peaceful movement of the students of M, S. University is a very significant event in Gujarat. It is not that easy to launch a movement for such a long period confronting the BJP backed University authority and it's students' organization ABVP. Now the struggle is to save the MS University. We all know that the students are very delicate and tender hearted supposed to be handled with lot of care. But the way they were treated in the hand of the University administration deserves universal condemnation. There is always a talk of NavNirman Movement and JP movement. But the similar situation can only crystallize when there is all out support to the democratic movements. Who dose not know there is a deliberate attempt to degrade the students and youths through TV, Cinema and make them careerist and self cantered one. Under this circumstances one will be really overwhelmed coming across the seriousness of the striking students. Days after days they are sitting in Hunger Strike braving the continuous rain. From the core of the heart one would like to salute for their patience and morale. Seeing them one can find hope in the younger generation. Let not the skeptical attitude towards the students push them again to the world of self-centeredness. May be our support and compassion can be a strength to them. Let us rise to the occasion and support their legitimate cause. We must remember BJP is still in the Govt. of Gujarat. It is defeated but not vanquished. Democratic movement is the only surest means to destroy their tentacles of Fascism. Mukesh Semwal- on behalf of the striking students from Baroda, Gujarat, India |
|
| << August10, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]Arjun dares RSS, says its philosophy killed Gandhi |
August12, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]RR men 'shoot' mentally-ill villager >> |
|
India Thinkers Net Archives Index
|
Subscribe
|
|
|
Archives powered by Zinester's Mailing List Service
Details on India Thinkers Net |
Browse for more newsletters at Zinester's Ezine Directory
Managed by Zinester's Mailing List Management |