Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit disclosed on May 31 that the university is grappling with a deficit of Rs 48 crore, shedding light on financial constraints during a meeting organized by the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) to address campus issues.
Among the urgent matters discussed were the infrastructural needs of students with disabilities, including the immediate deployment of security guards and enhancements such as repairing tactile paths and installing ramps. JNUSU emphasized the importance of improving accessibility for disabled students, citing recent incidents of injury due to inadequate infrastructure.
In response, Pandit urged the union to initiate student-level sensitization programs to assist those with disabilities, acknowledging the financial challenges faced by the university. She emphasized that while infrastructure issues could be gradually resolved, the current focus must be on addressing the pressing funds crunch.
Discussions during the meeting also touched upon issues concerning workers’ welfare, protests over water scarcity, and challenges related to fellowship programs and PhD admissions procedures. The VC suggested exploring local solutions for water scarcity, such as setting up water collection centers within the campus and implementing check dams.
JNUSU presented several demands, including the allocation of permanent positions for workers’ families, withdrawal of fines for past protests, and the restoration of fellowship programs affected by UGC regulations. Notably, the demand to eliminate the 55-year age bar for mess workers’ employment received attention, with assurances from the Dean of Students (DoS) that the matter would be addressed in accordance with the law.
As JNU navigates financial constraints, the commitment to addressing campus issues remains a priority, with both the administration and student union striving to find solutions amidst the challenges.
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