Amid unrest in Valley, outstation NIT Srinagar students a harried lot

EITHER SHIFT NIT OUT OF VALLEY OR ASSIGN US ANOTHER CAMPUS , STUDENTS WRITE TO HRD MINISTRY

NEW DELHI: Over 2,600 students of NIT Srinagar, who had left the campus due to unrest in Kashmir, following the killing of Burhan Wani on July 8, are yet to return to the institute. Subsequently, groups of students have written to the Union human resource development ministry, requesting it to either shift NIT out of Srinagar or assign them another campus.

Over the last two months, the institute has been closed. It was scheduled to open on July 27, but the date was later extended to October 3. Of 2,800 students enrolled, only 180 are present at the campus. Others say they don’t find it safe to return. Many students claim their parents are unwilling to send them back to the institute.

The HRD ministry and the institute are now looking at ways to reach out to the parents of these students to persuade them to send them to join the classes once it is functional. The matter will be taken up at the meeting of the Board of Governors (BoG) of the NIT on October 4, which will also be attended by the HRD officials. NIT Srinagar registrar FA Mir said: “Students are not supposed to come back now because the last date registration for the new semester has been extended to October 3rd.” “The date of registration (Oct 3) is likely to be extended further in view of the situation,” said MA Ahanger, dean academic affairs, NIT Srinagar.

The final year students’ are the worst hit as this year not many of their classes have been held.

“Till now we would have taken two minor exams before the final in November. But the institute is not functional, so we are at a complete loss. Even for our placements companies refused to come to Srinagar. We are not willing to have classes in the winter as it is very cold and basic facilities are not there,” said a final year student, who requested anonymity.