After parents’ protest, the Manav Adhikar Suraksha Manch (MASM), an anti-privatisation peoples' front fighting for the rights of people, came in support of the meritorious poor students of south Odisha deprived of taking admission into six newly started PG professional courses at the Khallikote Cluster University (KCU) due to high admission fee of Rs 1,20,000 per course.
The Manch staged a massive demonstration in front the Khallikote University here on Wednesday morning demanding immediate reduction of course fee which is 3-4 times higher than the fees for the same course as prescribed in three other State run universities of Odisha, apart from the Central Universities and leading private institutions (likeSMIT, PNC, Bastia-Rourkela) of the State.
MASM, led by convener Abani Kumar Gaya held a protest beating cymbals/gongs and shouting slogans against the VC and the State Government for commercialisation of professional education in front the main gate of KCU demanding immediate roll back of high admission course fee.
If the existing course fee of the six courses is not reduced, Manch will be forced to intensify the agitation involving students and parents, Gaya cautioned.
Gaya further alleged that it is a conspiracy by the VC of the university to either close or to postpone the courses on the sheer pretext of fewer applicants and thereby pave way for commercialization.
The Manch submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor through the University Registrar as the former was reportedly absent. Hundreds of students who were the aspirants for admission into these professional courses extended their full support in favour of the Manch.
Among others, lakshminarayan Rout, Ramesh Chandra Behera, Bansidhar Bhuyan and Manas Ranjan Patra were present.