Delhi: Students of South Asian University go on strike demanding disbursal of scholarships

NEW DELHI: The first-year master and PhD students of South Asian University (SAU) in the national capital have gone on a strike to demand immediate disbursal of scholarships/freeships with arrears, issuance of bona fide certificates for non-Indian students for visa purposes, and phased accommodation in the university campus, a statement said on Wednesday.

The students, boycotting classes since March 28, alleged that the university is mandating a "physical registration" in order to disburse scholarships without clarifying when such verification would occur in these uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic, read a statement issued by the first-year students of the university. "The first-year students were forced to decide on class boycott after the university’s uncaring and unresponsive attitude towards our emails demanding what we were promised in our admission offer letters. Also, the students were shocked to know that the university administration is mailing the Indian Embassies in the SAARC Countries requesting them not to provide visas to the first-year students," it added.

The students, supported by the South Asian University Researchers Association (SAURA), an elected student organisation in the SAU campus, and the Progressive Students Group (PSG), said they were shocked by the "callous attitude" of the university's administration and have resolved to continue their strike until the fulfillment of their demands. "Even one of our demands which was to convene a 'Grievance Redressal Committee' as per the SAU by-laws was not heeded," they noted.

The university, established, funded, and maintained by governments of the eight member nations, according to the students’ note, enjoys certain privileges and immunities, which hinder the students from approaching the national courts to get their grievances redressed.