PUNE: As 100 students from four agricultural universities - Mahatma Phule Agriculture University Rahuri, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agriculture University Parbhani, Dr Babasaheb Sawant Konkan Agriculture University Dapoli and Panjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University Akola - have been on an indefinite strike since Tuesday, 15 of them have tonsured their hair on Thursday at Maharashtra Council of Agriculture and Educational Research (MCAER) Pune.
Somnath Sawne, a student from College of Agricultural Parbhani, said, “Though we have been on a strike since the last two days, the officials have not paid attention to our concerns.”
Sagar Karande, also a student from College of Agriculture Parbhani, said, “There were several times when we met the concerned ministers and MLAs to discuss our demands. We also urged MCAER to mediate, however, nothing has happened so far.”
Nitin More, a student from the College of Agriculture Kolhapur, said, “Until we don’t get a written assurance from the MCAER authority, we will be on an indefinite strike.”
MCAER’S RESPONSE
MCAER Director-General Vishwajeet Mane said, “The demands raised by the students of postgraduate course have been forwarded to the concerned ministry as the students are demanding rollback of the GR and asking for scholarship schemes to be implemented for them and also demanding a reduction in their course fee.”
The domain for this lies with the Finance and Agriculture ministries. The scholarship scheme and reduction in course fee need approval from the Finance and Planning ministries. For that, the file has been forwarded from the Agriculture Ministry and the decision regarding it will be taken soon,” said Vishwajeet Mane.
