Farm students stage protest against delay in scholarship payment

Some students from the College of Agricultural Sciences staged a protest in front of the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad on Sunday saying that the State government and the university have delayed payment of scholarships to students of Other Backward Classes.

They demanded the immediate release of scholarships and fulfilment of their various other demands.

They raised slogans and submitted a memorandum to the university authorities seeking immediate intervention.

Student association president Sanat Totiger said that the financial condition of the university is not good and that this has led to the officers withdrawing several facilities to students.

“Our hostels are in deplorable condition, with no proper drinking water, hot water for bathing, while the washrooms are poorly maintained. This is causing severe inconvenience to both boys and girls. Despite repeated representations, university officials have failed to address the issues,” he said.

He said that several students have been selected for national-level athletics and Yoga competitions, but the university is unable to bear their travel and daily allowance expenses, thereby jeopardising their sporting careers.

He said that scholarships for OBC and minority students have not been released for the past two years.

“The State government has introduced a unified scholarship portal and assigned responsibility to three departments for disbursal, but these scholarships have remained unpaid,” he said.

“Earlier, OBC and minority students received scholarships up to ₹38,000 which covered 50% of the total college fees. In contrast, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students received 90% of the college fees as scholarship, with the remaining 10% of fees waived by the college concerned. While Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes students continue to receive their scholarships, OBCs and minority students have been left out,” he said.

“The State government has also reduced the scholarship amount to ₹15,000 starting last year, even as college and hostel fees have been increased to ₹1.25 lakh. UAS officials are saying that the Congress government has failed to release nearly ₹50 crore to the university over the past two years, making it difficult for those concerned to upgrade or maintain basic infrastructure,” he said.

He also said that due to delay in recruitment, the university has several vacant positions in various departments.

“UAS has only 82 permanent teaching staff. Of these, nearly 20 are set to retire in March. There is no sign of any new appointment process. Such delay will adversely affect academic performance of the over 2,000 students in 28 departments,” he said.

He warned of an intensive agitation if their demands are not met.