Allahabad University: Protest Continues Over 400% Fee Hike, Student Attempts Self-Immolation

A student leader of Allahabad University attempted self-immolation amid the protest over a 400 per cent fee hike on Monday (September 19). Students from several courses gathered at the campus and raised slogans against the university administration. The students are demanding a rollback of the fee hike as it will badly affect the students from rural areas and low-income backgrounds.

The proposal to hike the fees by 400 per cent was approved by the Executive Council, which is the top-decision-making body of the university, on August 31. Many students claimed that the fee hike would affect the student body and the upcoming batch of students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds belonging to eastern Uttar Pradesh or Bihar.

Several Hospitalised During Protest

According to reports, the students have been protesting for over ten days, and several has undergone fasting to express their agitation and disappointment. Five students have also been hospitalised after their health deteriorated during the protest. A student said, "Even after the protest, we have not got any positive response from the university administration. This shows the university's callous attitude,"

In response, the Vice Chancellor, Sangita Srivastava, said, "The fee per month at AU for the past 110 years has been Rs 12. The fee was due to be enhanced for the past years to pay running costs of electricity bills and other maintenance. The private institutions are now the major players and charge exorbitant fees," reported Scroll.

Students Backed By Political Leaders

Notably, the political parties and leaders have also entered the protest, showing their support for the students of Allahabad University. The Congress leader, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has come to the aid of students and demanded that the university roll back the hike in fees.

इलाहाबाद विवि में 400% फीस वृद्धि भाजपा सरकार का एक और युवा विरोधी कदम है। यहां यूपी-बिहार के साधारण परिवारों के बच्चे पढ़ने आते हैं। फीस वृद्धि कर सरकार इन युवाओं से शिक्षा का एक बड़ा जरिया छीन लेगी।

सरकार को छात्र-छात्राओं की बात सुनकर फीस वृद्धि का फैसला तुरंत वापस लेना चाहिए pic.twitter.com/Z28494Oxw5

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) September 12, 2022

On the other hand, the Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav, has backed the student-led agitation and commented that this is one such example of the anti-youth policies implemented by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He also mentioned that students are the primary part of democracy and the university's treatment of the students is a symbol of hopelessness.

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