With the crisis at the National Institute of Technology (Srinagar-Garhwal) deepening, the Uttarakhand government was forced to approach Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar. NIT students had launched an agitation in October this year, demanding permanent campus and solution to other issues. The situation is alarming as most of the students, who had gone to their homes on Diwali holiday, have not returned to the institute.
Nearly 900 students left the campus for festival holiday on 23 October. Barring around 25, rest of the students are yet to return to the campus. The crisis compelled Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat to speak to Javadekar on Wednesday.
The Chief Minister’s Office issued a press release on the NIT crisis on Wednesday. Rejecting media reports that the campus would be shifted elsewhere, Rawat said, “The campus will remain at Srinagar. After the Model Code of Conduct concludes the state government will bring a proposal in the cabinet for a permanent campus of the institute.”
The NIT, Srinagar (Garhwal), campus has been operating from the Government Polytechnic building since its inception in 2010. With limited infrastructure and facilities, the students were going through tough time.
As the institute is situated on the National Highway, the location is unsafe and many students have suffered injuries, provoking the students to launch an agitation.
When the authorities concerned failed to solve the problem, the students left the campus with their bag and baggage for Diwali holiday and are yet to return. There are unconfirmed reports that the campus will temporarily operate from IDPL-Rishikesh.
The Uttarakhand CM said the land for setting up permanent campus for the NIT had been identified near Sumadi and the formality of transferring the land would be done after the local body elections.
Hostel facilities and connectivity to the existing NIT campus will be improved to provide convenience to the students. Whether the assurance made by CM will solve the crisis remains to be seen.