File picture of students of Utkal University protesting outside vice-chancellor office in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, March 6: Utkal University is limping back to normality after over two week of disturbances following the strikes launched by students and various employees’ unions.

The employees called off their strike after the vice-chancellor and the registrar promised to look into their demands earlier this week.

Over 600 employees have been on cease work in support of their 11-point charter of demands, including better infrastructure facilities, and filling up of vacancies. Five employees’ unions had joined hands for the strike.

Girish Rout, president, Utkal University Officers’ Association, said: “We called off the strike after a written assurance from the administration. Also we could not have let the varsity suffer. Several important work had been pending due to the strike and therefore we decided to call it off.”

“We have just postponed it for the time being and will not hesitate to launch the strike again if our demands are not met,” said Rout.

The varsity authorities have started the boundary repair work for the walls surrounding the women’s hostels.

The girl students of the Utkal University had locked up the main gate protesting against failing security at the hostels.

They alleged that unidentified goons had been trying to enter the hostels at night. The boundary walls adjoining the hostels were damaged following the recent cyclone Phailin and have not been repaired since, the girls had complained. Student leader Tanmay Swain said that although the girls had called off the strike, their grievances had not been redressed.

“What have they done with the money sanctioned for Phailin, no one knows. They aren’t spending the money and then the money will return to the government. We will ultimately suffer,” he rued.

A section of students, who were on strike demanding better infrastructure and had locked up the examination centre also called off the strike following written assurances.

However, the ire among students has not died down with student groups planning more strike and demonstrations.

“We will be waiting for one more week to see if they start the ambulance service. If not, we are all set for another strike in a major scale,” said Premananda, another student.