Recent Developments in NIT Sikkim Hunger Strike

Gangtok: On 09/09/2018 afternoon, Shri G.P. Upadhyaya, the Additional Chief Secretary, and Secretary In-Charge, HRDD, Govt. of Sikkim, visited National Institute of Technology Sikkim. He met and talked to the students on hunger strike. He asked the students to call off their Hunger Strike. The students listened to him very politely and presented him their demands in the form of a letter which he read and gave an assurance of the fulfilment of their demands. He assured that the land for the campus will be allocated out of Rabongla, and this will be done within two to three months or even earlier. Also, he assured that the land for the permanent campus will be declared much before 2nd October 2018.

On his assurance on permanent campus (to be decided out of Rabongla), the students have called off their Hunger Strike.

NIT Sikkim started in 2010 and is located 120 km from Gangtok.

Gangtok: They started with 12, and are now 25. It has been 4 days since they began an indefinite hunger strike with the demand for a permanent campus. Rabongla in Sikkim which is otherwise a tranquil paradise for birdwatchers is now witnessing a silent protest by students who are demanding a permanent campus for National Institute of Technology, NIT Sikkim.

12 students of the institute began an indefinite hunger strike on Wednesday at the academic blockade of the temporary campus. Their demand- A permanent campus for NIT Sikkim.

But is the strike all abrupt?

The Institute, NIT Sikkim is 8-year-old and has been functioning from a temporary campus. The 800 odd students who study at the institute have tried other means too. Students kept on skipping classes since July to attract the attention of the Sikkim and Centre government towards the difficulties faced by them in the absence of a permanent campus.

The Ministry of Human Resource Development led by Prakash Javdekar had provided assurance that a high-level Sikkim delegation led by state human resources development minister R.B. Subba would do the needful to identify a suitable location for the NIT Sikkim campus and also provide funds for the construction.

NIT Sikkim director had also briefed the students about the meeting at Delhi and asked them to withdraw their protests and resume attending classes.

The students, however, hold that they were not informed about any developments either from the state or central governments.

According to our sources at Sikkim, the students who have joined the hunger strike for demanding a permanent campus for NIT Sikkim are continuing with it. On Friday, the health condition of two protesting students deteriorated.

The number of participants has also gone up from 12 to 25, out of which 4 are girls.