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August12, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]BARODA M.S.UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MOVEMENT. >> |
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From: dnrad1 <dnrad1@sancharnet.in> Date: Sat Jul 10, 2004 Subject: fact finding rep-citizens REPORT OF FACT FINDING TEAM REGARDING THE STATE OF AFFAIRS OF HOSTELS OF M.S.UNIVERSITY, BARODA -By All India Save Education Committee Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda was known as a great site of learning. Many parents settle at Baroda so that their children's can study in this great University. This University, which carries the dream of Sir Sayajirao Gaekwad, Shri Arvind Ghosh, Dr. Ambedkar, Literate Shri Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai and many other attract thousand of students from all states of the country abroad because of its massive hostel facility. But nowadays many things have changed. Earlier head of this institution were concerned about the development of students; whereas nowadays they are totally unconcerned regarding facilities for the students and for them students are nothing but a consumer to be exploited. The changes in hostel administration, fee structure and closing down hostels resulted into harassment to the students residing there. Students are also protesting to pressurize the University to withdraw these decisions. University authority is trying to prove by statistical information that as number of students is less; two hostels need to be closed down. Whereas according to students all hostel are full to its capacity and four to five students are kept in 3-bedded room. In this situation All India Save Education Committee felt the necessity to form a fact-finding committee and bring out the real situation in the hostels. Shri Kirit Bhatt, Manzoor Saleri, Jaswantsinh Chauhan, Dhiru Mistry, Bipin Jani, Motibhai Kanojia, Diptiben Bhatt, Bharati Parmar, Chogaram Rathod and Tapan Dasgupta were the member of the fact finding team - visited various hostels, met warden, Deputy Chief Warden, students and prepared the following report. In Maharaja Sayajirao University thee are 16 hostels, out of which 12 boys and 4 girls hostel. These hostels have a capacity of 3600 students. Among the 12 boys hostel, 9 are in the main campus and the remaining 3 in the Polytechnic campus. University authority has decided to close down two boys' hostels out of 9 hostels of the main campus. Earlier the admission process was done from respective faculties and there was faculty wise quota. This year admission process has been centralized and is being done from the chief warden office and quota system has been removed. Team members first visited T.K. Gajjar hall. T.K. Gajjar Hall: There are 80 rooms in this hall with an accommodation capacity of 231 students. 12' * 14' room have only 2 cupboard, but three beds are forced into these rooms. The third cupboard was kept in to the common veranda. The team visited various rooms; it found 4 to 5 students are occupying one room (7,9,15____). They have taken their coats out and kept the beds on the floor. In the roof of the first floor there are many cracks through which water is seeping in the lobby as well as rooms. There are major crack in many rooms also from where water is coming in. I become impossible for the third partner to stay there (45,50,76). The team have also seen open wires hanging in lobbies and room. In one room due to short circuit fire occurred resulting black patches. Walls and ceiling are will and possibility of electrocution is very much there. The only electrical repairing has been done in bathroom from the common charges paid by the students. Dr. R.S. Mani is warden here for last one ear. According to him these cracks in the hostel occur due to the 2001 earthquake. He has given written application for repairing of these cracks to the University authority, but nothing has happened. According to him because of the laxity of University authority is causing the delay. According to him in T.K. Gajjar hall 60 extra students are staying and he has allotted 4 students in 3-bedded rooms. When the team's members asked that they have seen 5 members in some room, he said that the 5th student would be accommodated in other hostel soon. He also said that he had informed University authority regarding the condition of electric wiring but nothing happened till date. Because of bad transformer and voltage fluctuation often light goes off. He said that money for ordinary maintenance has not been allotted, as ORM meeting has not taken place yet. Sardar Patel Hall(S.P. Hall): There are 80 rooms in SP Hall, out of which 40 are two bedded and the 40 are 3 bedded. Beside one office room, two storerooms, one water cooler room, remaining 76 rooms can accommodate 183 students. On the day of this survey 183 students were residing. The two bed room were originally single bed room of 8' * 11', later changed to double bed room. After accommodating two beds in it hardly one table chair can be accommodated. Here we came to know that that there five category of admission takes place - 1) Fresh admission 2) Re-admission 3) Temporary admission 4) Eligible for re-admission but due to some or other reason has not submitted re-admission form. (Chief warden when recommended by the warden readmits these students). 5) Students who have passed some under graduate or post graduate course and came for admission for further studies. (These students are kept after charging guest charge and accommodated after they pay fees in the University). Kanaiyal Munshi Hall ( K.M. Hall): In K.M. Hall earlier there was capacity of 152 students. Till last year there was chief warden office. As this year chief warden office was shifted to Nimb Niwas, 6 rooms increase in this hall and now 170 students can stay there. But 172 students are staying in this hall. Jivraj Mehta Hall: J.M. Hall is meant only for Medical students. This hostel has a capacity of 180 students. But every year in first two months 100-120 extra students stays here. Academic year of medical students does not coincide with general academic year. Every year at the time of first year MBBS admission 100-120 extra student stays here till examination is not over. After examination when senior students shift to new medical hostel, new students get proper accommodation. In this hall also cracks are there in the roof of first floor and water sips in the room and lobby. Maharshi Arvind Hall (M.A. Hall): According to the warden Shri Jitendra Wadhwa there are 70 rooms in the hostel having capacity of 185 students. There are two bed rooms and three bed rooms. Now hostel is full and no illegal are there. Arts, Fine Arts, Performing Arts students get admission here and sometime few of them leave hostel and stay in rented house. So every year in this hall 5-10 student increased or decreases. Also there are cracks in this hostel from where water comes in. Vikram Sarabhai Hall (V.S. Hall): In V.S. Hall only Ph.D, M.Phil and Post Graduate students' gets admission. 130 students can stay here. All rooms are single bed rooms. At the moment 109 students are staying here and 21 rooms are still vacant. Cracks too are there in this hall. Nusserji Vanji Hall (N.V. Hall): Warden of N.V.Hall, Mr Natrajan said that this hall has a capacity of 180 students, which is full today. Mess is not operating in this hostel for almost three years. Polytechnic Campus: There are three halls in polytechnic campus. Siddhraj Jaysinh Hall (S.J. Hall), M.Vishweshwarya Hall (M.V.Hall) and Rabindranath Tagore Hall (R.T.Hall). Among these three-hall only R.T. Hall have warden. There is no warden at the moment in M.V. Hall and S.J. Hall. In R.T. Hall only undergraduate Engineering students get admission. 310 students are admitted against the capacity of 320. 20 to 25 failed students who have passed this year are in the wait list. So no new students can be admitted here. There are also crack in the 1st floor of R.T. Hall. M.V. Hall has a capacity of 285 student and 232 students are admitted. Here PG students are admitted in the main. S.J. Hall has a capacity of 320 students where only 15-20 seats are vacant. Hostel wise situation Sr.No. Name of the Hostel Capacity Total Excess Vacant Admitted Student Student 01 T.K. Gajjar Hall 231 291 90 - 02 M.A. Hall 185 190 5 - 03 S.J. Hall 320 310 - 10 04 K.M. Hall 170 172 2 - 05 V.S. Hall 130 109 - 21 06 S.P. Hall 183 183 - - 07 M.V. Hall 285 232 - 53 08 J.M. Hall 180 300 120 - 09 R.T. Hall 330 310 - 20 10 N.V. Hall 180 180 - - Hostel Mess: All hostels of M.S.University have separate mess. But among 10 mess (except LBS and MM Hall) only 6 messes is functioning. Yearly contract is given through tender for running a hostel mess. Till last year contract were given through warden, after consulting hostel students representative, hostel monitor and food monitor. Water and electricity was subsidized and Rs. 660/- was charged as food bill. From this year according to the changes of rules regarding hostel mess, contract will be given through Registrar and cost of water and electricity have to be borne by the contractor. Deposit has been increased from Rs. 10,000/- to Rs. 25,000/-. Along with this Demand draft of Rs. 4,000/- has to be submitted. Earlier worker of mess used to stay there to complete cleaning work and preparation for the next day. Now onward they have to lock the mess at night 10 pm and stay at a rented house. According to a mess contractor all will add to the mess bill and mess bill will rise up to around Rs. 1,000/- from Rs. 660/-. Till now collection of mess bill was done through warden. In case of non-payment of mess bill, warden used to collect the amount from the deposit paid by the student. Now mess contractor and students has to work it out among them, which may create tension among them. Beside the role f warden regarding the quality of food will be absent and the sufferer will be the student. After Centralisation of Hostel administration fee is collected in the chief warden office. Earlier fees were collected in banks, thus having more transparency. Earlier the receipts provided the details and break ups of the fees collected, which is not there in current receipt. The receipt issued currently also does not have revenue stamp (Rs. 2,800/- is collected through these receipt) or any rubber stamp thus these receipt looses legal validity and possibility of malpractice increases. In previous years warden meets were convened in every month where various hostel problem were discussed and remedies were worked out. But for the last five month this very important democratic process is not working. According to the handbook of University, a Hostel advisory board has been formed for all major decision regarding hostel. Under the chairmanship of VC the board includes Pro VC, two deans of any faculty, three leading citizens of Baroda, two to three syndicate members, three professors and two to three wardens. This very important body has not been formed for the last two and a half year. Absence of Warden in Hostel and question of illegal students One of the reasons provided in support of closure of LBS Hall and MM Hall is that illegal students are staying in these halls. Those who are not bonafide students of M.S.University and staying in the hostel are illegal students. But any bonafide student who have paid fees for admission or paid guest charges as they are here to appear for some examination or to get admission in some courses are legal occupant of the hostel. In LBS hall for the last one and half year there is no warden to take care of the administration. In this situation some unwanted elements are bound to take advantage of the situation. Today also there is no warden in M.V., SJ.and M.M. Hall. If these halls remain without warden for long period, problem of illegal residents will grow in these hostels. In Girls hostel also there is no Superintendent in P.G. Hall for the last 3 years and in S.D. Hall for the last one month. Serious consequences may happen if such state of affair continues for long. Cracks in the hostel: There are many cracks in hostel, which according to wardens are result of 2001 earthquake. Government of Gujarat had crores f rupees which was supposed to be spend for repairs and maintenance of affected building. Then why University authority has not asked for fund for repairing of these cracks. Now students are suffering for the last 4 years for the gross negligence of University authority. And if Government has provided money for repairing of University buildings then why they have not utilized the money till now? CLOSURE OF L.BS. AND M.M. HALL The fact-finding committee came to now that no warden or warden committee has suggested the closure of LBS and MM Hall. The decision was taken hastily and without any debate and discussion. Halls of Residences is an important part of M.S. University. The issue of closure of these two halls should have been discussed among teachers, students, wardens and citizens. Much complexity has arisen because the decision has been taken at individual level. Till date there was only 60-70 vacancies in the hostel, whereas against it 60 students are staying at T.K. Gajjar Hall on a temporary basis. Hostel admission of law students, performing arts students has not started yet. Admission process of commerce - payment seat is still continuing. Number of students may increase as quota system has been removed. Every year new courses are beginning. These would certainly lead to heavy rush in the hostel. In this condition if they close two hostel then it is a question that where they will accommodate students of these two hostels. Rather it will be more appropriate if University authority starts two new hostels. At the time of survey we came to know that in each hall gets 5 attendants and one sweeper. Suddenly before the month of April chief warden office appointed 56 attendants, sweepers and watchmen (1 sweeper and 1 attendant in each hall) at the salary of Rs. 1,350/- per month, per person. This has been done without any prior notice of Vice Chancellor and Syndicate and no intimation has been sent to them after the appointment. When the issue has been brought into the notice of the VC in a meeting, he cancelled all the 56 appointment. But no steps has been taken against the person who are responsible for the misuse of Rs. 1,49,200/-which has been paid as salary for two month to these 56 appointed. The fact-finding team also went to meet the chief warden Dr. Anil Navale. But in his absence the committee met deputy chief warden Shri Natarajan. He showed latest data regarding hostel accommodation, which varies from the information given by the hostel wardens. When the team asked shy single bedded rooms changed to double bed room, triple bed room to four-bed room, he accepted that fact and said that would change it to its original capacity. According to him in T.K.Gajjar hall and some other halls 60-70 illegal students are staying we want to vacate them with the help of students and security. When asked that what step they have taken to curb illegal students, he said that police has been informed. Team members also asked that could they accommodate student having more members of family and staying in small room for which their study suffers? He said that give this proposal in detail and he will try to convince syndicate to change the rule of 20 km in University handbook so that such students can be accommodated in the hostel. The citizens of Baroda are the host to the students who comes here for higher studies and we as citizens of Baroda cannot tolerate the wretched condition of hostel in which students are staying. What students staying in hostels expects from the University Authority? One bed, one cupboard, table, chair, enough air and light. But we saw water coming in rooms and lobby through the roof, their bed get wet, as they had kept them on floor. We have seen wiring has been badly damaged because of short circuit. At any time accident may occur. Students spend themselves for new bulbs and tube lights. Four to five are staying in one room. Much time there are no lights in common bathroom. The team failed to realize how student could get a peaceful study atmosphere in such living condition. The fact-finding committee suggests the following recommendations so that a healthy academic atmosphere can be created in hostels. 1) Withdraw the decision to close down L.B.S. Hall and M.M. Hall. 2) Construct new boys and girls hostel 3) T.K. Gajjar hostel should be repaired immediately. Other hostels also need maintenance. 4) University should take steps so that students have not to spend money from their own pocked for bulbs, tub lights and wiring maintenance. 5) Immediately solve the complains of the students. 6) Single bed rooms, which have been changed to double bed rooms, should be changed to single bed room again. 7) Organize monthly warden meeting. 8) Immediately appoint wardens in all hostel where there is no warden 9) Immediately appoint superintendent in P.G. and S.D. hall in girl's campus. 10) Bring more transparency and right to information in hostel administration. 11) Hostel Advisory Board should be made immediately. 12) Involved Hostel Students' Committee in all hostel administration and activity. All India Save Education Committee expects that M.S. University Authority will implement the above recommendation immediately. For All India Save Education Committee |
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| << August12, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]RR men 'shoot' mentally-ill villager |
August12, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]BARODA M.S.UNIVERSITY STUDENTS MOVEMENT. >> |
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