State appeals to students of Sir JJ School of Art to withdraw agitation, takes cognisance of issue

MUMBAI: Taking cognisance of the protest by students of Sir JJ School of Art, minister for higher and technical education Chandrakant Patil in a meeting on Thursday spelt out a series of decisions and appealed to students to withdraw their agitation against the lack of hostel and other facilities.

“The state government has provided funds for the new hostel on the college campus, construction of which is likely to take two years. Meanwhile, temporary accommodation of students from rural areas of the state will be provided at Matoshree hostel on B Road, Churchgate area,” he said.

A decision to rent a guest house of the Public Works

Department (PWD) in Andheri for girls was jointly taken on a phone call discussion with PWD minister Ravindra Chavan.

For almost a week, students of JJ School of Art have been protesting against the lack of basic infrastructure such as hostels as well as the quality of education due to vacancies of faculty.

While a decision on professors who are working on a temporary basis will be taken in accordance with a Bombay High court order, vacant posts of 169 professors in various art colleges in the state will be filled through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) and the recruitment process is underway, said Patil.

He also directed MPSC chairman, Kishoreraje Nimbalkar, to release the schedule of the faculty recruitment process as early as possible.

Addressing the issue of infrastructure Patil said, “Funds are available with the state government for facilities in colleges. A list of infrastructure facilities required by the students should be prepared. The suggestions of the students should also be included in it and the proposal should be submitted to the government. Funds will be made available for the same.”

STUDENTS HAVE BEEN PROTESTING AGAINST THE LACK OF BASIC MEANS SUCH AS HOSTELS AND THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION.

HT PHOTO Students protest against the college management.