Pune: In solidarity with the Young India Adhikar March to be held in Delhi on February 7, student associations in Pune held a protest meet in the city on January 22. Swaraj Abhiyan, Lokayat and Sarvodayee Yuva Vahini were some of the participating organisations.
The meet was held at Gokhale Chowk (popularly known as Goodluck Chowk), Fergusson College (FC) Road.
Ibrahim Khan of Swaraj Abhiyan said, “The government has been commercialising education and reducing its share in providing education to the youngsters. Also, the employment available is mainly in contract-based and temporary form.”
Alka Joshi of Lokayat also said that the government has waged a fight against the young population of the country. “In the last four and a half years, around 26,000 students have committed suicide in the country. Student loans are increasing, and so is unemployment.”
The protesters have demanded that the student loan must be waived off. It also insists that the government should spend 10 per cent of the GDP on education, and also stop shutting down government schools.
Another demand also addressed the gender inequality that exists at the educational institutes with respect to availing and using the hostel facilities.
Other demands include
