1,000 students protest at BU campus demanding basic facilities

Sowmay Raju | NT

Bengaluru: Over 1000 postgraduate and research students of Bangalore University staged a protest on July 11, demanding basic facilities that were promised by the university three years ago.

The students gathered at the admin block of the university and sat in a protest, demanding free sanitary napkins for all female students, sanitary napkin disposable machines at all women's washrooms, good quality updated books at the library, smart classes, and so on.

"We have been placing these demands to the administration for over 8 months, but they have been washing our appeal letters away," said Lokesh Ram, a student activist and the Honorary President of the research scholar association at the university.

He also shared with the News Trail Correspondent that the students have tried to call for a protest several times, but the administration convinced the students not to protest citing different reasons.

Several promised facilities such as computer classes, a competitive exam coaching centre, good canteens, good labs and equipment, have also not been fulfilled.

As per the students these facilities and the university's assurance of providing laptops, and necessary camera for fieldwork, which is still to be provided to the researchers, is satisfied only on paper and have not been implemented.

Lokesh Ram also added that basic facilities such as Wi-Fi at all places on campus, spoken English classes for rural students, 24×7 study library with updated books are also unavailable which is affecting the studies of several students here.

Lokesh added that the students are hopeful that after this protest the admin will make the decision.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, with the hostel authorities and other authorities to go through the list of demands and come up with a solution to benefit the students.

The protest comes at a time when Bangalore University is facing a number of challenges, including financial difficulties and a lack of infrastructure.

The students' demands are a reminder of the need for the university to address these challenges and provide its students with the facilities they need to succeed