Left student wings raise voice for charter of demands

FROM OUR Special Correspondent

Silchar, July 6: After lying in low profile for a long time, SFI and DYFI have together staged protest demonstration in front of the statue of Khudiram Bose in support of their 16 point charter of demands on Thursday. A good number of leaders, supporters and students joining hands together raised slogans against the present system of administration, hitting out at the Centre and the state governments. Those who addressed the protest demonstration included Bidyut Chakraborty, president, Debojit Gupta, secretary, DYFI Cachar district committee, Gulzar Zakaria, president, and Supriya Choudhury, secretary, SFI Cachar district committee.

 The main thrust of their speeches covered many burning issues related to education, industrialization, East-West Corridor, rail services and exploitation of religion for vote-bank politics among others. It was pointed out that most of the educatiol institutions suffered from lack of due ration of students and teachers which had to be elimited. In order to accommodate the growing number of students, more educatiol institutions should be set up. Besides, B.Ed course should be introduced in every college by slashing the admission fees.

 The government should respond to the clamour of educationists for filling up the vacant posts of teachers and employees in educatiol institutions. There should be no appointment of contractual but permanent teachers and that all the venture schools be provincialized. Another area of concern is the irregular payment of scholarships to students which should be removed. The increase in the admission fees in schools, colleges and the Assam University is unjustified and has to be brought within reasoble limit.

With emphasis on clean environment around, toilet facilities in a scientific manner are to be made available for girls in every school and college as well as the provision of safe drinking water. In view of the complaints about the hostel services in Assam University, serious efforts have to be made to upgrade their quality and the number of hostels has to be increased. Apart from academic matters, the demand for industrialization of Barak Valley on priority basis has to be considered in order to create job opportunities for unemployed boys and girls.

 There should be no privatization of Cachar Paper Mill and the work on East-West Corridor is to be completed on war-footing. Both the student organizations have strongly argued for the introduction of passenger train during night between Silchar-Guwahati. Moreover, the present trend in raking up issues with commul overtone has been condemned which has been described as ominous for a democratic country like India. The protestors carried banners and posters highlighting their demands.