Skip to main content
xYOU DESERVE INDEPENDENT, CRITICAL MEDIA. We want readers like you. Support independent critical media.

PG Agriculture Students from Four Maharashtra Universities Tonsure Heads in Protest

Sagrika Kissu |
The students have been protesting since June last year after their courses were struck off the list of professional courses and fees doubled
PG Agriculture Students

After the courses they pursued were struck off the list of professional courses, about 15 students have tonsured their heads in protest with the state government of Maharashtra failing to acknowledge their demands. Over 200 students (the number is rising) from four agricultural universities – Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth in Rahuri, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth (VNMKV) in Parbhani, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth in Dapoli and Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth in Akola- have been sitting on an indefinite strike outside the Maharashtra Council of Agricultural Education and Research (MCAER) office in Pune. 

On January 22, 2019, a government resolution which said that the Post-Graduation Agriculture courses would be removed from the list of professional courses, was passed. The resolution came as a shocker to students who could not avail scholarship since their course was itself expelled from the list. Adding insult to injury, the college fee was also doubled. Students said that the resolution was implemented in June 2019 and that they have been protesting in the University campus ever since. “Initially, we were given assurances, one after the other. But the Vice Chancellor has now said that it is out of his hands. He has further said that only the state government can take a decision,” said Tukaram, one of the protestors from VNMKV. 

The students have two basic demands:

  • Reinstatement of professional status for post graduation agricultural courses including MSc Agriculture, MBA and PhD 

  • Restoration of scholarships to students from both reserved and non-reserved backgrounds.

Almost all protesting students come from poor, farming backgrounds and cannot afford to pursue their education without scholarships. “There has been a four-fold increase in fees. When students from a reserved enrol in a professional course, 90% of the college fee is waived. However, when the same student gets admission to non-professional course, they have to pay thousands of rupees which they cannot afford,” said Tukaram.  

The protesting students also spoke about the apathy of the state administration towards their plight.

Another student, Sagar, said that out of the 850 students enrolled every year, around 500 belong to reserved categories of Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, Economically Weaker Sections and Other Backward Castes. “All these students have been excluded from scholarship. Paying this hefty amount is impossible for these students. They can’t afford to pay college fees and if the decision is not rolled back, the students will have to the leave the course in between,” he added.  

It is important to note that the courses were professional before January 22, 2019.

“All students have been excluded from scholarship benefits; whether they are from the reserved or non-reserved category,” Sagar added.

Students have decided that they will not budge until their demands are heard. “We want written assurance from the MCAER authorities.  We won’t budge until they are given. Tomorrow, more students will be joining us and the protest will grow in number,” said Tukaram. 

Get the latest reports & analysis with people's perspective on Protests, movements & deep analytical videos, discussions of the current affairs in your Telegram app. Subscribe to NewsClick's Telegram channel & get Real-Time updates on stories, as they get published on our website.

Subscribe Newsclick On Telegram

Latest