College students to abstain from classes till demands on scholarship and land encroachment settled
Morung Express News
Kohima/Dimapur/Mkg | August 10
All across the state, the All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) today began its indefinite protest against the Nagaland State Government’s failure to address its demands on scholarships and land encroachment in educational institutions.
Units of the union across the state abstained from their classes and took to the streets to protest. The ANCSU has submitted repeated representations asking the government to address delay in release of scholarship; demanding the setting up of a separate nodal cell for scholarships, and to settle the land disputes and encroachment in educational institutions.
Copies of a memorandum were submitted to the Chief Minister through the District Deputy Commissioners in all the districts.
In Kohima, a peaceful protest rally was held outside the Naga Club building with students from various colleges in the capital participating.
Christopher Ltu, President, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) stated that the land encroachment issue in Kohima Science College, Jotsoma has been a long pending issue. Disappointed over the government’s complacency, Ltu regretted that students are compelled to come to the streets to protest because of the government’s apathy. While speaking on the delayed scholarships, Ltu also reminded students to “retrospect how many of us really deserve to avail scholarship and whether we are taking away something which is not rightfully ours?”
He meanwhile criticized the lack of infrastructure development in Nagaland University. “The University is not able to accommodate even fifty students in a department per year. Where will our remaining students go?” he questioned. While students have been voicing their concerns, Katho P Awomi, President of ANSCU rued over the silence of the ‘good people’ and the deteriorating culture passed by the older generation which has compelled students to take to the streets.
One among the ANCSU demands concerns land encroachment in Kohima Science College, Jotsoma. The union has been demanding that the state government immediately expedite the process of settlement. Similar settlement of all land disputes, encroachment issues and proper wall demarcation in district colleges and polytechnic institutions through proper land survey was also demanded. “The union demands proper wall demarcation for all government colleges to protect its land and prevent any kind of encroachment in the future,” stated the ANCSU.
It is also demanding the setting up of a separate Nodal Cell for scholarships and permanent settlement of the scholarship issue. While demanding disbursement of all scholarships within a stipulated time/month every year, the ANCSU has noted that many students rely on scholarships for academic needs and therefore all students should be benefitted latest by August every year.
ANCSU said that the students will continue to abstain from their classes until the government meets their demands. In Dimapur, hundreds of students from different colleges at the DC Court Junction and staged a peaceful dharna.
Vehicular traffic for both in and out towards DC Office was blocked and traffic personnel were seen directing commuters to take alternate route. Asserting their “firm support” to the ANCSU, the students urged the CM to intervene on the issues “without delay or fail.”
Four colleges of Mokokchung District—Fazl Ali College, Jubilee Memorial College, People’s College and Tuli College also held a dharna in Mokokchung, with nearly a thousand student participants.
Bejong Longchar, Vice President, ANCSU led the students in the rally and briefed the gathering about the purpose and objective of the rally. Along with the ANCSU demands, the students called for settlement of land encroachment at Fazl Ali College Mokokchung.
The Zunheboto Government College Students Union and Khelhoshe Polytechnic Kohima also held a peaceful dharna while asking the government to settle the Zunheboto and Khelhoshe polytechnic land encroachment issue. It also demanded upgradation of Khelhoshe polytechnic, Atoizu to a degree course institution.
The Dharna in Wokha district was held with Pithungo Shitio, Speaker of ANCSU demanding that the land at Mt. Tiyi College be demarcated and concrete wall be erected under the demarcated land. Representatives of the Lotha Students’ union (LSU), Mt. Tiyi College Students’ Union and Baptist College Students’ Council representatives spoke in support of the demands made by ANCSU.
At Phek district, the Students' Council, Phek Government led the protest. Solidarity speeches were delivered by President of Phek Town Chakhesang Students' Union; Vice President, Students' Council Govt College of Pfutsero; and Vice President, Students' Council Government College Phek.
