NIT agrees to many demands, mum on flag hoisting by Modi

NIT-Srinagar management will consider formation of students’ council and all national festivals will be celebrated in the institute, it has said a day after outstation students put forth their demands at a meeting here in the wake clashes with local students. The minutes of the meeting, attended by NIT Srinagar Director Rajat Gupta, officials of HRD ministry and students representatives, and decisions by the Board of Governors were put on the institute’s website but it did not refer to another major demand of students that HRD minister Smriti Irani or the Prime Minister should hoist the tricolour at the campus. It has been decided to allow optional external evaluation for recent exams. Also, a committee constituted for students grievance redressal having two external members will go for further fact finding into incidents that led to tension at NIT Srinagar and is expected to submit its report around May 15, according to NIT-Srinagar website. An official said that earlier an interim report had been given by a panel and this committee would further take up the matter, reports PTI. As per the the Institute’s website, among the main decisions taken is that “a new Committee for students Grievance Redressal which has been constituted with two external members will do the fact finding now and its Report is likely to be submitted by 15th May, 2016.” It has been decided that the Board of Governors will con- sider the report and formation of students council and its modalities. Optional external evaluation “for the minor one exam, on written request and irrevocable basis,” has also been approved. Enhancement of medical facilities within 3-4 months, prefab two hostels having 80 rooms and prefab 15 class rooms likely to be completed within six months, reimbursement of medical bill claims and food and fruit corner in the campus are the other demands of students that NIT administration has agreed to. The issue of encroachment of NIT land has already been taken up and it will be vigorously pursued with state government by the administration and all national festivals will be celebrated, it has been decided.