Mumbai: Students of three prominent government educational institutes in the city – Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Government Law College (GLC) and the Government Polytechnic in Bandra – are up in arms over poor infrastructure, lack of academic support and basic facilities such as provision of water in hostels.
Meanwhile, GLC students have launched a ‘Save GLC’ campaign over stalled scholarships and campus renovation, while students at the Government Polytechnic are grappling with inadequate water supply and hostel accommodation. “Despite paying a hostel development fee, we do not get proper facilities. Students from different parts of Maharashtra depend on hostel accommodation as they cannot afford the high cost of living in Mumbai, the student added. “The struggle for students’ legitimate demands, which has been ongoing since March, has finally gained momentum.
The death of a first-year diploma student at VJTI on October 22 after he was diagnosed with dengue has brought students’ concerns regarding hygiene and health facilities at the institute into sharp focus. In September, VJTI students wrote to the college authorities highlighting the poor condition of its three hostels, which house around 1,200 male and female students.
We worked hard to secure admission to this college, but the hostel conditions are disappointing,” a student said, requesting anonymity. A senior official from the higher and technical education department said that following complaints from students, higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil chaired a review meeting and issued relevant directions. “We do not get proper water on campus, and the lack of hostel facilities is a major problem,” a student said on condition of anonymity. ABVP will continue to fight for students’ issues and provision of essential facilities and to end mismanagement in the college,” said Abhishek Pawar, Mumbai Mahanagar Mantri, ABVP. Aashi Gupta, state joint secretary of ABVP Mumbai, said, “Students need timely completion of the syllabus, pending practicals and question banks, along with better communication and an effective grievance system.”
