Osmania University Scholars Protest Leaky Mess Roof, Demand Repairs
HYDERABAD: For over a week, research scholars at Osmania University (OU) have been grappling with a leaking roof in the dilapidated building hosting the hostel mess. The university has not responded to their complaints.
To highlight the issue, research scholars led by the Students Federation of India staged a sit-in at the mess, dining under the leaking roof. If the administration won’t listen to us, perhaps they should join us here and eat under these conditions," one of the scholars said bitterly. The scholars demanded that the university administration take immediate action to repair the mess building or relocate the facility to a safer location.
Last year, during the monsoon, a similar situation arose, leading to protests on July 26, 2023. The administration's promises of repair made last year remain unfulfilled. " We are forced to protest again, as our pleas continue to be ignored," another scholar who participated in both the protests said.
The scholars were particularly critical of the previous BRS government, which they accused of neglecting state universities by not allocating necessary funds and failing to fill teaching and non-teaching posts. "The BRS’ decade-long rule saw the steady decline of our universities," another student noted.
Although the Congress, which came to power with promises of allocating 15 per cent of the budget to the education sector, has been in office for eight months, the students pointed out that only 7.3 per cent of the Budget was allocated, and the education sector continues to be ignored. "They promised change, but what we’ve seen so far is no different from the past," Yadagiri Kranthi, a student, and member of SFI.