Students protest in front of v-c office at utkal university in bhubaneswar.Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 17: Degree examinations in at least 367 colleges under Utkal University, which are scheduled to begin on January 19, is likely to be affected because of an indefinite strike called by students today.

Angry students today locked up the examination section of the varsity and refused to budge until their demands were addressed.

Holding placards and shouting slogans against the authorities, they urged for fulfilment of their five-point charter of demands. They rued shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff at the varsity and demanded immediate recruitment for the posts that were lying vacant.

The students also demanded construction and renovation of various buildings and roads, repair of old hostels and construction of new ones.

“We have approached all officials, including the chief secretary, with our set of demands. But, our demands have not been addressed. Nothing can be done until the authorities here take action,” said student leader Tanmay Swain.

The students said they would continue the indefinite strike unless they got a written assurance from the authorities.

The degree exams, which will begin on January 19, will continue till April.

Today’s protests affected the dispatch of question papers and answer sheets to various exam centres.

Varsity authorities apprehended that the protest might delay the examination process.

“We will try our best to convince the students. In the worst possible case, we will try to send the questions by e-mail,” said a senior varsity official.

In another development, members of the clerical staff, under the banner of the Utkal University Non-Teaching Employees’ Association, are continuing with the strike they launched last week.

They have been protesting against shortage of manpower and unhygienic workplace.

More than 600 non-teaching employees were seen squatting in front of the vice-chancellor’s office raising slogans for fulfilment of their demands.

Association member Khetramohan Jena said that they had served ultimatum to the university authorities demanding the repair of crumbling infrastructure and filling up of vacant posts.

“We have been working in an abysmal condition. We have been deprived of basic sanitation and working conditions,” he said.

Another employee said that the varsity authorities did not take any step to address their concerns despite repeated protests.