Students of JKBK College protest in front of the principal’s office. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Jan. 3: Students of Jatiya Kabi Braja Kishore (JKBK) Government College today staged a protest on the campus demanding adequate infrastructure in the college.

“We want the existing asbestos classroom halls to be converted into a full-fledged building. Apart from this, we want regular commerce and science streams to be introduced in the college which is mainly a Plus II and Plus III arts college,” said student union president Sudhansu Sekhar Patra. Tapan Rout, another student, said: “There are no adequate provisions for electricity and other basic facilities in the college for which students are facing problems.”

At present, there are around 1,700 students enrolled in JKBK College which run classes for Plus II arts, science and Plus III arts streams. The students are demanding the introduction of Plus II commerce, Plus III science, Plus II and Plus III sociology and education streams in the college.

“In private colleges, the students strength is more than 2,500. But in a government college like ours, why can’t the authorities take steps to increase the number of seats?” asked student Gayatri Biswal.

Earlier, the students had submitted a memorandum to the principal on their seven-point charter of demands. However, since no steps had been taken, the students launched an agitation.

“We want the number of seats in the arts stream to be increased from 156 to 256. If the authorities do not fulfil our demands, we will resort to hunger strike in coming days,” Biswal said.

On the other hand, principal Dhirendra Kumar Sarangi said the students had submitted a memorandum on their demands and the college authorities were trying their best to solve the problems.

“The students had submitted their grievances in written for the construction of a four-storied building. The matter has been brought to notice of the concerned officials and steps are being taken in this regard,” Sarangi said.

On the introduction of the commerce stream, the authorities said it could not be done in a single day because it was a lengthy procedure. However, being a government college, there would be no problem in getting permission for the introduction of new streams.

All the issues have been discussed with higher authorities and the college has been sanctioned Rs 20 lakh. The construction work had already begun and the problems, students were facing, would be sorted out, the principal said.