Jadavpur University Students Demand Inclusion of All Stakeholders in Decision-Making – Tension Mounts
Jadavpur University in Kolkata, India, has been gripped by tension as a group of students protests against the institution’s Vice Chancellor, Buddhadeb Sau, demanding that all stakeholders be included in decision-making processes concerning the prevention of ragging on campus. The students, affiliated with the Students’ Federation of India (SFI)-controlled Arts Faculty Students’ Union, intercepted Sau as he left the administrative building on Monday, asserting their demands.
Sau, in an attempt to reason with the students, explained that calling for a meeting with all stakeholders hastily would not be possible, but he assured them that their concerns would be addressed within the week. However, the students insisted on a written circular asserting their demands and the guarantee of convening a stakeholder meeting.
The students’ sit-in protest at Aurobindo Bhavan, which has lasted for over two weeks, was initially sparked by the tragic death of an undergraduate student. The student fell from the second-floor balcony of the main hostel on August 9 after allegedly being subjected to ragging and physical abuse by seniors.
Joyadrita, a spokesperson for the Arts Faculty Students Union, stressed that the Vice Chancellor was not confined or gheraoed, but instead engaged in discussions regarding important matters pertaining to Jadavpur University. The officiating Vice Chancellor, along with Pro-VC Amitava Datta, also met with the students in an effort to resolve the impasse.
It remains to be seen how the university will navigate this issue and find a middle ground that satisfies the demands of the students while adhering to the established decision-making processes. The inclusion of all stakeholders in matters concerning student welfare and ragging prevention is crucial, and striking a balance between urgent action and established procedures will be a significant challenge for the university administration.
