The National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) at Jammu University has demanded that the Dhanvantari Library be open 24/7 for the benefit of the students. According to NSUI JU president, Jatin Dogra, the Central Library’s operating hours have been limited to 8 a.m. to 11 p.m for the past two years, which has caused issues for students. Last year, NSUI gave a memorandum to the university requesting the library remain open around the clock, but the request was ignored. The organisation then staged a hunger strike, but the university administration used various tricks to disband them.
Dogra went on to criticise the university administration and student organisations for deceiving students about the issue. NSUI has submitted another memorandum to the vice-chancellor request that the university not take students for granted and instead keep the library open 24/7 to benefit their future goals. To further benefit students, he also requested that female students be given access to the library until 10 p.m.
The university administration maintains that the library’s shortened operating hours are due to security concerns, but Dogra challenged this explanation. In particular, he questioned why library memberships had been granted to outsiders and not to students from the Department of Distance Education. Additionally, he wondered why university officials would fear an insider threat from hostel boarders.
If the University administration does not respond to NSUI’s demands soon, the organisation will protest with all university students, warns vice president Salik Ali. Other NSUI members present during the conference were Khushi Chib, Sharav Sharma, Sneha Kundal, and Tazeem Farooq.
