Students’ Union pens to SPPU regarding various unresolved issues ; warns of fierce protest

The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) have written to the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) about many points such as withdrawing cases against students & student unions, reservation in recruitment of professors, easing terms & conditions in scholarships, fee structure for the academic year 2024-25 & many more. The NSUI has warned of doing a fierce protest if these points are not taken seriously.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, Akshay Kamble of National Students’ Union of India, said “The first demand is about taking back fake cases of gathering without permission etc filed against students who met Senate members. There is are no cases filed against anybody else who had met the students. The second demand is implementing 10% Maratha reservation in recruitments of professors as, despite the 10% Maratha reservation becoming compulsory, it hasn’t been implemented for 111 vacancies of professors. The third demand is removing the oppressive terms & conditions of scholarships provided to students so that students of poor financial background can apply for the scholarships as well. The fourth demand is not increasing fees in the academic year of 2024-25 as the rule is of increasing fees after every 10 years. The University had already increased fees for the last academic year & still the fees will be increased for this academic year. Hence, the University must take serious & immediate action for these demands.”

As per further information from the letter accessed by Pune Pulse,

Various academic as well as administrative problems have increased in the university. They should be resolved at the earliest. The demands are as follows:

·         The University should immediately withdraw the false cases filed against the students and union representatives when they met Senate members on November 6, 2023.

·         10 percent reservation for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) should be implemented in the recruitment of university professors and candidates should be given an opportunity to apply.

·         Oppressive terms & conditions in various scholarship schemes offered by the university should be removed immediately.

·         The university should cancel the fee hike implemented for the academic year 2024-25.

The above demands have been verbally discussed with the administration officials many times in the past. But, only promises were received. If these demands are not met within two days, the NSUI will conduct a Dharna protest on March 23 (Saturday) in front of the main building of the university.

Shreyas Vange