Cuttack, Sept. 7: Agitations in the run up to the students’ union polls have escalated tension at two premier education institutes in Cuttack
While a group of Ravenshaw University students staged a demonstration based in support of a 14-point charter of demands, their peers at Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha have started a protest over the lack of facilities and irregularities on their campus.
“Our university is one of the best known educational institutions in the state. But the situation right now is deplorable.
“The number of classrooms as well as faculty members is not enough and this is hampering our studies. We demand better infrastructure and recruitment of teachers,” said Abhisekh Mohanty, a student of Ravenshaw University.
Ravenshaw registrar Smarapriya Mishra, however, said steps had already been initiated for the recruitment of lecturers and efforts were on to consider other demands of the students.
On the other hand, students of Biju Patnaik Film and Television Institute of Odisha have been demanding urgent measures to solve various issues pertaining to welfare activities in the college. The students even boycotted their classes and gheraoed the administrative block in the afternoon.
“We are facing problems as there is lack of latest equipment to supplement our studies. Being technical education students, we need the gadgets to enhance our skills. However, all equipment at the institute is outdated and no step is being taken towards procurement of latest gadgets. We are not getting any kind of assistance from the authorities,” said Saumya Ranjan Mishra, a third year student of film and video editing.
At present, over 150 students are enrolled in the three-year diploma courses in sound engineering, film, video editing and cinematography.
“We haven’t had a permanent principal for the last couple of months and are unable to put forth our demands before proper authorities,” said Saroj Kumar Sahoo, another second-year student, adding that the institute lacked trained teachers and support staff to impart technical education.
The students also alleged that though the entire duration of their course was three years, it invariably spilled over to an additional year. The institute functions under the directorate of technical education.
The authorities of the institute were unavailable for comments. Secretary of the employment, technical education and training Chandra Sekhar Kumar said he was aware of such allegations and would hold the first meeting of the governing body of the department on September 11 to discuss the issue.
“Former vice-chancellor of Ravenshaw University Devdas Chhotray was chairman of the governing body of the institute, but the post has remained vacant after his retirement.
“Now, as secretary of employment, technical education and training, I will function as its chairman. We will sort out their problems during our governing body meeting next Tuesday,” Kumar said.