Campus Watch
HPU student raise voice against increasing RSS effect on education and its privatization
SHIMLA- The series of HPU student protests is marked by so many events that by now, it sounds like regular news to see these student shouting slogans, sometimes at HPU campus and other times in front of DC office. Their voices were unheard by the people and suppressed by the Govt.
Still, they aren’t giving up. Call them nuisance if you find the bliss of ignorance sweet, but be worried if you seek the truth and justice for Himachal’s youth.
Today, about 100 students staged a protest in front of Shimla DC Office against, as they allege, against the privatization and communalization of education by the Centre Govt. Students criticized the increasing RSS influence on education policies or say ‘Hindukaran’ of syllabus books.
At a time when University is reeling under heavy financial crises, the Centre has cut the UGC grant to institution by 32%. It’s a disgraceful sign for any democratic state which can’t even provide education to its youth, if not free, then at least, at minimum possible cost. Educational and health institutes mustn’t be turned into profit generation bodies. It’s the responsibility of the Govt., and clearly the our CM is failing it completely.
More than that, the students are agitated over the concealment of the report submitted by the review committee from public – the report of the committee which was created to investigate the fairness of huge hikes in HPU fees. The committee has already submitted the report to the Govt. about 10 days ago, but it’s not yet released for public to view.
Some sources are of the opinion that the report of the committee, more or less, takes the side of the protesting students. What’s taking so long for the Govt. to consider the report when the committee was formed by the Govt. itself, for a fair evaluation of the fee hike decision?
Political influence on HPU administration wasn’t ever missing, but the arrival of new Vice Chancellor, Prof. ADN Bajpai proved to be a catalyst in this regard. The ugly game of politics almost reached its peak during last 3-4 months. Everyone witnessed the ruthless misuse of HP Police. There isn’t any doubt that Shimla is missing its previous SP, Abhishek Dullar. Many students and even policemen agree that he would have handled the situation with more decency and efficiency as compared to the new SP, DW Negi.
It’s been more than two months that HPU campus is turned into police cantonment. The section 144 still prevails at campus. There has been no violent incident or even any sign of such probability, but the Govt. isn’t withdrawing 144. The students are blamed and held responsible for it, which is completely ridiculous. Many students are still in jail and aren’t being granted bail. They are considered more as terrorists who pose threat to the VC and students. It’s a shame that when the Govt. couldn’t face the student protest, it turned to misuse of state machinery.
A couple of days ago, the wall of HPU blocks were painted with slogans opposing fee hike and asking for the removal of the VC. HPU administration declared red alert over the issue. A meeting was conducted, FIRs were lodged, and the hunt for the culprit was initiated.
Read About/View Images: HPU Campus:Defamatory wall writings stir controversy
However, we guess, the administration headed by the VC, must focus on holding meeting to address the cause of such distress among students. Police force isn’t the solution. A Govt. in a any democracy must consider the grievance of its pubic, and must not impose what majority of public rejects.
The students won’t give up so easily. Today, they again warned the Govt. to behave of to face more protest from Himachal’s student community.
Photos: Tarun Sharma
Campus Watch
Nauni Varsity Scholar Naincy Bags Scholarship to Pursue PhD in France
Solan: Naincy Sagar, an alumna of Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni has bagged a fellowship for pursuing PhD from France. Nancy has reached France and will be pursuing PhD in Forest Genetics from the University of Orléans under INRAE fellowship. INRAE is France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Naincy has completed her BSc Forestry from College of Horticulture and Forestry (COH&F), Neri in 2018 and MSc Forest Biology and Tree Improvement and Genetic Resources from UAS, Dharwad, under ICAR’s National Talent Scheme. Before leaving for France last week, Naincy was working as a Junior Research Fellow in a research project at COH&F, Neri.
She had applied for a PhD with a scholarship in Forest Genetics which was advertised by INRAE. Naincy was successful in the interview and was awarded a fellowship for three years for pursuing PhD at the University of Orléans. During the course of the PhD, she will receive a total scholarship of around Rs 70 lakh along with medical reimbursement. Naincy will be working on forest tree larch species in the Project titled ‘Vigour at what cost? ‘Trade-off’ of hybrid vigour in Larch-Phenological, morphological and physiological determinants of hybrid superiority in Larix X eurolepis’ with a team of 20 scientists of Joint Integrated Biology Research Unit having expertise in genetics, genomics and physiology for the enhancement of tree and forest diversity
Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Vice-Chancellor of the university spoke to Naincy via web conferencing and congratulated her. Dr. Kaushal, who has also done his doctorate from France, shared some tips and suggestions. He asked Naincy to explore this opportunity to learn about new cultures along with doing research that could help to enhance and conserve forest wealth in the future.
Naincy expressed gratitude towards her father Satya Prakash Sagar (Retd. SDO BSNL) and mother Monika Sagar, who is working as SDO in BSNL for their continuous support for higher studies. She also thanked Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parvinder Kaushal, Dean Dr. Kamal Sharma and Dr. Dushyant Sharma, Project Investigator and all the university staff for their support and guidance. The university administration, Dean of COH&F Neri congratulated Naincy and wished her success.
Campus Watch
HP University Extends College Admission Date for 2021-22 Session Till Oct 25
Shimla-Dates for admissions to undergraduate courses for the session 2021-22 in colleges affiliated to Himachal Pradesh University has been extended, which has come as a relief to not only those students who were seeking fresh enrollments in the first year but also to the students of the second and third year.
The varsity informed that the decision was taken after considering requests received from various students regarding the same.
Now, willing students can apply for enrollment in both government and private colleges till 5 PM, October 25, 2021.
This extension of date would benefit students who recently passed supplementary exams or those students of the second and third-year who had missed admission due to delay in declaration of their previous results.
Campus Watch
UHF Nauni Extends Admission Dates for UG, PG, PhD Till Oct 18
Solan– Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry (UHF), Nauni, has extended the last date for applying to various Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctoral programmes in Horticulture, Forestry, Biotechnology, Agribusiness and Business Management. Applicants can submit their complete online application on the university’s admission portal till 18th October.
The normal seats of BSc (Hons) Horticulture, BSc (Hons) Forestry and B Tech Biotechnology will be filled on the basis of scorecard of ICAR-AIEEA (UG) 2021.
Admissions to MSc, MBA (Agribusiness) and PhD (for normal and self-financing seats) will also be conducted on the scorecard of ICAR AIEEA (PG) and AICE-JRF/SRF respectively. Students who have appeared in the ICAR-AIEEA 2021 for UG and PG, or AICE-JRF/SRF examination and are interested in seeking admission, such students must fill the university online application form before 18th October. Undergraduate aspirants who have not appeared in the ICAR test can however apply for the self-financing seats for B Sc and B Tech Biotechnology programmes run by the university by filling the online application on the university website.
The university has also advised the registered candidates to submit complete online application forms along with online payment acknowledgement slip before the due date. The schedule for online counselling will be announced by the University on the website after the declaration of the ICAR examination result. Application forms other than online mode will not be accepted.