Port Blair, Sept 29:Showing much concern over the long pending issue of grant of affiliation to DBRAIT College by Pondicherry University and also to express their solidarity with the student Community in their genuine demands, the South Andaman Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha, has written a letter to the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Port Blair today. The letter has also been signed by six other Zilla Parishad members.
In her letter the Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha, Up-Adhyaksha mentioned that the crux of the matter is understood to have been the seventeen (17) points preferred by the Pondicherry University long time back, fulfillment of which is still pending from the Authorities, they fathomed out. Consequently the University has declined the affiliation and as a result of which the students have been suffering untold miseries, they felt. The indifferent attitude of the Administration resulted in non- conducts of exams for the last three years thereby putting the students future in dark, they alleged in the letter.
The affected students have been protesting for their genuine rights for the last many months seeking a remedy, which is well within the ambit of the Authorities, but to no avail, as said by the ZP Heads. Since their grievances were allegedly kept at bay for a long time, the students resorted to a peaceful Road Roko at Dairy Farm junction to press for their demand of affiliation which is genuine in nature, they hinted at. However, in utter disregard to an amicable solution, the treatment meted out to them in dispersing from the scene with water cannon and use of Tear Gas resulting in injury to some of the students was severely condemned by both the Adhyakshas.
In view of the fact that the issue concerns future prospects of the student community of these islands, immediate fulfillment of the points raised by the Pondicherry University to enable them to grant affiliation to the DBRAIT College is very much essential, the Adhyakshas observed.
The Zilla Parishad Adhyaksha, Up-Adhyaksha and other members made a request to the Chief Secretary in the letter to look into the matter and arrange to do the needful to this effect immediately. She also added that if issue is not resolved within fifteen days there would be a large-scale protest involving all the PRIs and members of the general public.
