The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Wednesday ordered partial rollback of hostel fees hike. The decision was taken today at a meeting of the Executive Council -- the highest decision-making body of JNU. The Council also proposed a scheme for economic assistance to EWS students. For almost a fortnight, students from Left-backed political outfits have been protesting against the hike in hostel fees.
The students' union claimed the draft hostel manual, approved by the Inter-Hall administration, has provisions for hostel fee hike, dress code and curfew timings. The students had gathered outside the convention centre on the campus but, to press their demands effectively, shifted their protest to the administration block, which houses the vice chancellor's office and the office of other senior administration officials, on Wednesday.
Beating their daflis, they shouted slogans against the JNU administration and the vice chancellor. The JNU Teachers Association, representatives of which attend the EC meeting, alleged they were not informed about the change in the venue to the office of the Association of Indian Universities near ITO.
According to sources, the room rent which was raised to Rs 600 from Rs 20 for single occupancy will now be Rs 200. Similarly, for double occupancy the rent was hiked from Rs 10 to Rs 300. The amount will now be Rs 100.
The students had on Monday staged protest outside AICTE, the venue for the convocation. As the protests escalated, Union HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' was stuck inside for over six hours and forced to cancel two scheduled events.
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