PUNE: Students protesting against ‘Earn and Learn Scheme’ called off their hunger strike at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) campus on Wednesday.
These students had been on a hunger strike for a couple of days. They were demanding that all students should get an opportunity to avail the scheme, instead of selected few students. Meanwhile, on Tuesday evening, two students, Hanumant Kusunge and Pratap Harkal from the protesting group were admitted to Sassoon Hospital due to deteriorating health condition. Followed by which the fellow students staged a protest in front of Vice-Chancellor’s residence.
“The management had decided that ‘Earn and Learn Scheme’ will be implemented for only one course. Students have been informed about this, however, few students sat on hunger strike demanding to extend the facilities to them. The management has now stated that it will conduct a case-wise study and make a decision accordingly,” said Dean of Students’ Welfare Department Prabhakar Desai who met the students to resolve the matter.
Another protest of students which turned into a ruckus was reported at varsity campus on Tuesday. A group of engineering students, who were protesting against the wrong assessment of examination, allegedly damaged Vice-Chancellor Nitin Karmalkar’s car when he was trying to leave his office. The students had stated that VC had refused to meet them and they tried to stop his car when found he was leaving. However, students stated they didn’t damage the car. The university authorities have expressed strong disappointment over the incident.
