JNUSU hunger strike enters 12th day; students want JNUEE, increase in scholarships

The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) has entered the '12th day of hunger strike'. The JNUSU president, along with other students, has mainly four demands, including the reinstatement of JNUEE, stopping the eviction of PhD scholars, revoking proctorial inquiries, increasing the scholarship award, and, lastly, scrapping the rationalising committee.

The protestors demand the reinstatement of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE), which has been replaced with the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test (UGC-NET) system in recent years.

JNUSU has issued an open letter to the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) faculty members seeking their support for students who have been on an i ndefinite hunger strike to press their demands. While addressing a press conference, JNUSU president Nitish Kumar has appealed to JNU teachers to stand in solidarity with students and join them for a protest for at least a day.

JNU students contend that restoring JNUEE is crucial in maintaining the inclusive and diverse character of the institution. "The NET-based model ignores the specific academic culture of JNU and has diluted the accessibility that JNUEE offered to students from marginalised and diverse backgrounds," the letter claimed.

The letter also added that the removal of deprivation points and the imposition of a one-size-fits-all testing system have already narrowed the JNU’s social and intellectual diversity

End to eviction of PhD scholars, hike in MCM

Apart from the demand for reinstating JNUEE, the students have also called for an end to the eviction of PhD scholars, revocation of proctorial enquiries and an increase in the merit-cum-means (MCM) scholarship to Rs 5000.

According to the JNUSU, five students, including its president Nitish Kumar and councillor Antariksh, have been on on hunger strike for 12 days. Several others, including JNUSU vice-president Manisha and councillors Abhishek and Sunil, have also participated but had to withdraw from the protests due to health concerns, the union said.

Reportedly, over 230 students have taken part in relay hunger strikes since the protest began. “We are not just fighting for ourselves, but for the generations of students who will come after us. “We urge you, our teachers, to join us for one day of hunger strike and show that the JNU community stands united,” the JNUSU letter said. With inputs from PTI.