GADVASU: Press Briefing Regarding Students Strike

Students should must complete their degrees first

Ludhiana: 07 June 2014: (Punjab Screen Bureau):

Students talk to Dr KML Pathak, Deputy Director
General, ICAR (in pink shirt) and DR VK Taneja, VC,
GADVASU (in blue shirt) at the PAU in Ludhiana.
Courtesy: Tribune Photo: Himanshu Mahajan

Final year B.F.Sc. students and some former pass outs of college of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) are on strike since 2.6.14 in protest against the State Government for not providing jobs to the fisheries graduates. Since the inception of the College of Fisheries, university is continuously making efforts for the placement of their students in public as well as private sector. University had been the major driving force in getting B.F.Sc. included as basic qualification for the entry level post of Fisheries Officers in State Fisheries Department. Meeting of the students with honourable Chief Minister of Punjab were also arranged to make the state government aware of the scientifically trained fisheries human resource produced by College of Fisheries, GADVASU, so that they may be absorbed in appropriate fisheries development projects or schemes of the State. The honourable Chief Minister of Punjab has also asked the fisheries graduates to come forward with promising self employment projects in fisheries as young entrepreneurs, either individually or in groups, and has assured them to provide financial assistance for the same. 

The university authorities are in constant contact with the students on strike from the very first day to convince them that university is equally concerned with their future prospects and has been doing all possible efforts for their placement. The students were advised to resume their classes and complete their degree, which is due to complete in July, 2014. The Registrar, Dr. P.D. Juyal, Director Student’s Welfare, Dr. S.P.S. Sangha, Dean, College of Fisheries, Dr. Asha Dhawan, Dean, College of Veterinary Science, Dr. H.S. Sandhu and Dr. Nidhi Sharma, the Warden of Girls hostel, met the students many times to listen to their demands and assure them all support from the university in finding suitable placements in future. While returning from New Delhi after an official tour, Dr. Asha Dhawan went directly to meet the students in late night hours. She also assured them of extending all possible help and guidance for placement in fisheries sector in near future. But the students were not ready to listen to any one and kept on insisting to press the government in advertising the posts of Fisheries Officers, available in State Fisheries Department. The Dean also issued an appeal to the students for a meeting the next day to discuss the matter in detail. She also advised the students to resume their classes and get their degrees in time so that they become eligible for future placement, but the students were not ready to call off their strike. 

They have also been advised time to time by the Dean, College of Fisheries and other university official not to stay outside during the nights, as it is not safe with respect to security and health of the students. The respective families of the students were also informed about their activities and parents of the girl students were also conveyed that it is not safe for their daughters to stay out on the road during night hours. But neither the students nor their parents paid any attention to repetitive calls and requests of the authorities.  They are sitting outside the university premises on their own risk. However, the university has deputed their security personals and female attendants for the safety of students during the nights, while local administration has also provided security, to the students. The university authorities are worried for the welfare and safety of their students, but it is unfortunate to know that they are blaming the University for pressurising them for calling off the strike and giving misleading false derogatory remarks in the media.

DR. V. K. Taneja, Vice Chancellor, met the students outside the Pal auditorium after the convocation of College of Veterinary science and conveyed them that university had been in constant touch with the state government for their employment and will continue to make further efforts for the same, both in State and private sector. He further informed that the State Government has submitted a project worth Rs. 320 crores to the Government of India for strengthening of fish production the State under the protein supplement mission. The project is likely to be sanctioned and shall make available various jobs for fisheries graduates. He further added that another fisheries project with ample job opportunities is in the pipe line for submission to the State government and advised the students to keep patience and resume their classes so that they may complete their degrees in time. 

Dr. K. M. L. Pathak, Deputy Director General (Animal Science) ICAR, New Delhi, who was in the campus as chief guest for the convocation of College of veterinary Science,  assured the students for the early sanction of the project submitted by the State and also informed them various schemes launched by ICAR for the benefit of the students. He further encouraged the students to earn ICAR and other national fellowships/scholarships for higher studies and better job prospects globally. 

As the students are not paying any attention to the repetitive requests of the authorities and are guilty of breaking university semester and hostel rules by not attending their classes, staying outside the hostel without prior permission of the warden and disturbing the academic decorum of the university, a notice has been issued to the students that if they will not resume their classes and continue their strike, which is illegal and a serious act of indiscipline, their semester may be suspended/ scrapped. 

The authorities once again appeal to the student to complete their degrees first, to become eligible for jobs in fisheries sector, within and outside the state. The university had been and will continue its efforts for getting them placements in near future, but they need to have patience and co-operate with the authorities for exploring the same. The demands of the students, regarding filling up of vacant posts of Fisheries Officers available in the State Fisheries Department, has already been forwarded to the director cum Warden, Fisheries, Punjab for further necessary action.