Cops on guard in front of SRFTI gate on Wednesday
Institute rules require 75% semester attendance, with a Rs 1,000 fine for every percentage point shortfall. Kolkata: SRFTI vice-chancellor Santosh Ajmera met faculty members on Wednsday and announced that resumption of classes was non-negotiable and students staying away would face consequences, even as the students’ union resolved to continue its boycott until security concerns were addressed.
The chairman has not met us,” a students’ union member said. The staff member said students were not the institute’s “sole stakeholders” and added: “The institute has only one entrance/exit gate. We stand with our students with heart and soul and are genuinely worried about their safety,” a faculty member said.
Students stayed away. “We have come here to study and not do politics. But the vice-chancellor doesn’t pay any heed to our demands. The shuttle vans are not working properly. Their demands include preventing further threats or attacks, protecting student representatives, transparency on the SIT report and fact-finding process, and an end to alleged victimisation. Ajmera later instructed the faculty to continue classes and mark absentees. “A special investigation team has already been constituted. Yet teachers are being unfairly maligned as stooges of the authority and blamed for helping the VC identify students and get them punished. Registrar Dipak Kumar had complained to the cops after this Sunday’s incident. Yet, he is being accused of inaction. Attack on that makes everyone of us who work/stay on campus insecure. Heightened security measures, boundary walls, and police protection have failed to halt the academic deadlock. Returning to normalcy is important for all of us. Tensions worsened after a 15th-batch student accused three faculty members of anti-student activities. “Some of us condemned these baseless rumours and the attempt to instigate students and create an unwanted rift. If this situation continues, we will not only jeopardise the future of our students but also provoke external elements to display their counter-power.
On Tuesday, deans of the film and Electronic and Digital Media Management wings announced that classes would resume on Wednesday, with make-up classes allowed for lost days.
Because of us, we had staged a sit-in demonstration inside the VC’s office when many security officers barged in and told us that their families’ security is at stake. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kolkata | Silver Rate in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata | Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Petrol Price in Kolkata | Diesel Price in Kolkata | CNG Price in Kolkata | LPG Price in Kolkata Stay updated with the latest Kolkata news.
Victim-blaming has started on campus,” said a student. Students rejected the allegations. “Many of the staff are blaming students for whatever has happened. We fear it is the VC who is behind this. Download the TOI App.
Because of this, “Many students have earlier faced issues.
Not having classes and conducting exams on time run the risk of SRFTI losing its university status,” a faculty member said. In some cases, they have been exempted from paying the fines. But that doesn’t mean they can expect exemption this time as well. A staff member alleged misinformation was being circulated.
A scuffle broke out inside the vice-chancellor’s office on Wednesday.