Central University of Kerala students to fight hike in fee, cut in scholarships

KASARGOD: The students of the Central University of Kerala (CUK) may launch an agitation soon over some controversial decisions taken by the executive committee of the university recently. They include increasing the fees by 10 percent and reducing the scholarships given to the students. Ina memorandum submitted to vice-chancellor Dr G. Gopakumar, the students council has demanded withdrawal of the decisions. An office-bearer of the council said that the undemocratic practices of the university were hampering the progress of the students. "It is unfair for the university to deny them their present benefits and impose on them more burdens," he said.

The merit scholarship will be withdrawn from the next academic year. "The official oral communication to the students council says that the cooks posted in the hostels will be sacked to maintain the UGC guideline on the restriction on staff numbers and students have to pay for the cook/ mess workers. It is learnt that the PhD scholars of science will not be provided funds for purchasing chemicals for their work. The administration has to resolve these issues at the earliest," the memorandum stated.

The students also demanded timely publication of the results. Many departments have not yet published the results of last semester. The VC said that the fresh rules on merit scholarship and fees will be implemented for new students as per the direction issued by the union ministry of human resource development. "However, I have assured them that the results of the exams will be announced soon," he added.