Student union leaders on Tuesday sat on the protest outside Ranchi University (RU) Central library, demanding Vice Chancellor, Dr. Ramesh Kumar Pandey to make the central library functional 24x7.
They alleged that the promise made by him in this regard was merely to get decent grades in National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) ranking.
No serious attempts are being made to revive the plans. The RU VC stated that staff crunch is posing a big hurdle in making the central library operational for 24x7 at Morabadi Campus.
The protest led by Ranchi University Students’ Union (PG) President Tanuj Khatri and a few other students said that they have been waiting since long to make the library functional 24x7. “Even after two months and despite of arranging all books at the library, a notification is yet to be out by the university officials. Despite sending the reminder, nothing has been done for this. Security concern is mere a false claim from the university officials’ side,” said Khatri.
Some students standing with placards and banners said that if the administration is supporting the commercial activities like night market concept in the city then why they cannot assist the university administration in this venture. Officials of RU are merely bluffing the students, they alleged.
Seeking the students’ welfare, especially those who hail from poor background and research scholars, the RU VC had announced to make the central library operational 24x7 from March 2017. After Governor Droupadi Murmu’s recommendation to keep the university central library open for 24x7, RU officials were also preparing a blueprint considering the safety aspect of the students.
“We require home-guard personnel in adequate number to guard the central library premises at Morabadi campus. Though the proposal of keeping open the central library is under the process but looking at the present condition it cannot be made functional 24x7 now,” said the VC.
The Vice-Chancellor who a few months back had assured the students of the university that the library would start operating round the clock from March 2017 with all essential facilities like free Wi-fi and latest revised books has said that attempts are being made to keep the central library open all days till 10 PM.
Similarly, RU Pro VC, Kamini Kumar, besides Dr. PK Singh, Coordinator College Development Council (CCDC) who has taken up the charge of the project too said that the matter can only be lined up when the proposal of appointing security personnel and deputation of a librarian and an assistant librarian on ad-hoc basis, who would serve in shift every day, is arranged.