National Institute of Technology (NIT) Srinagar has been in focus this spring. Thousands of students on its roll are selected through national level competitive examination. This and other NITs have a large role in imparting various skills to our young boys and girls and thus increase the vast group of skilled personnel among the younger generation. Early this year, there was trouble among the student community in which outside students were pitted against the local students. It appeared as if pro and anti national elements were involved in the trouble. This was disappointing news and authorities at many levels tried successfully to douse the flames. Non-State students complained that discriminatory treatment is meted out to them in the institute and that provocative slogans are raised that hurt their national sentiments. The local refuted the charges and instead accused the outside students of vitiating the atmosphere of the institute.
For the parents it was a moment of depression and crisis because they were apprehensive their wards might have to suffer academic loss. Finally good sense prevailed on all sides and normalcy restored. But this was a short lived relief. On 8th July after the gunning down of a terrorist leader in South Kashmir, the entire Valley plunged into widespread unrest and agitation that increased with each passing day. Calls were given by the seditionist leaders and traitors to observe strike and total hartal. Life in Kashmir came to a standstill. Those who gave call for strike did not think about the repercussion of their calls on people especially the daily wage earners, small shopkeepers, taxi and three wheel drivers and above all the vast student community going either to the educational or professional institutes in the Valley. All educational institutes and universities remain closed for last three months.
This had led to very adverse impact on the students of NIT Srinagar. Since it is a national level institute, it is run along the time schedule of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. Students of this institute are facing the threat of loss of one semester besides the usual academic losses because of the ongoing disturbed situation in the Valley. Uncertainty looms large on the students whose registration as well as classes for the autumn session 2016 could not be resumed till date. They do not know whether their registration will take place and whether the classes will begin or not. This is a state of abject uncertainty because nobody can predict what the leaders of sedition and treason will decide about next step. Actually, it is the Board of Governors that must make clear and final recommendation to the MHRD. We have information that the Board of Governors met on October 4 and recommended to the Ministry of Human Resource Development to consider alternatives to the existing rules according to which the students are under the threat of losing one semester and registration for admission to NIT Srinagar.
This is a case which has to be decided on the merits of the situation. Disturbances in Kashmir Valley are not of the choosing of students of NIT. Conditions in the valley are such as do not allow normal functioning of educational institutions. The Board of Governors has clearly reported that there appears no possibility of strikes and hartals coming to an end that soon. As such it has suggested the alternative strategy. The Board of Governors has suggested postponement of the forthcoming two-month Winter vacations, ensuring more working days by terminating all the holidays, holding extra classes and combining minor exams as was done in 2014 following flash floods in Srinagar. It is now with the MHRD what decision it will take in view of the report of the Board of Governors.
We would strongly recommend to the MHRD that the recommendations of the Board of Governors be taken into consideration and some more concessions be granted to the students of this institute so that they do not lose a precious semester of studies. The students should not be allowed to suffer for no fault of theirs. It is very unfortunate that the dissident leadership is blind to their losses when calls for outright strike are given. We also understand that some students have not responded to their selection and many more have decided not to join Srinagar NIT. This is national loss and the responsibility rests with the MHRD which must come to their rescue.
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