KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Continuing with its efforts to push for revocation of recently announced fee-hike for admission in various undergraduate courses, Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT) Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday presented memorandum to Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir (KU), Prof Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi, demanding cancellation of the decision and setting up of Grievance Redressal Cell for students.
An IJT delegation comprising its President, Umar Sultan, Central Campus Secretary, Zahid Iqbal and Incharge Kashmir University Unit, Showkat Ahmad called on the Vice Chancellor on Wednesday afternoon and presented the memorandum to the VC.
The memorandum described the fee-hike order by KU as “elitist” and “unsympathetic” towards students lacking any consideration for the overall economic condition of the state, , a statement issued by Umar Sultan said this evening.
Besides asking for revocation of the fee-hike order, the memorandum also demanded setting up of a Grievance Redressal Cell to receive and respond to the SOS calls from Kashmiri students studying in different educational institutions across mainland India “in the face of growing incidents of violence and hate crimes against Kashmiri students”.
The memorandum also demanded that University should explore the ways and means to minimize the costs of conducting undergraduate examination fees in future with the objective of lessening the financial burden on students keeping in view the overall economic condition of the State. It also demanded for concessions in admission and examination fees to economically weaker students.
In its pro-student initiative, the IJT launched a campaign seeking redressal of students’ grievances.
On Tuesday, the IJT presented memorandum to almost all Kashmir based College Principals demanding revocation of the fee hike as the decision “is likely to have an adverse effect” on the State’s Gross Enrolment Ration (GER) which is already recorded as low as 18.2 % as per government survey conducted in year 2011-12.
“The Vice Chancellor gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured positive response,” the statement informed, “He said Kashmir University was committed to students’ welfare and had already taken various pro-students initiatives.”
