The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) ended its 17-day hunger strike, which began on August 11, after the university administration conceded to several of its key demands.
JNU agrees to reinstate entrance exam
The JNUSU Charter of Demands included the reinstatement of the JNU Entrance Examination (JNUEE), which the union has been advocating for. In response, the administration has verbally assured that admissions for the next academic session will be done through the JNUEE, though no official confirmation has been provided.
The administration also agreed to increase Merit and Means (MCM) scholarships and extend them to students in the School of Education and Management Studies once additional funding is secured.
Other commitments by the administration include tabling the Nafey Committee report, which suggests reducing the weightage of oral defence marks in admissions, at the next Academic Council meeting. Also, the university has agreed to open the Parthasarathy Rocks gate from 6 am to 10 pm daily, though the syndicate is advocating for 24×7 opening.
The administration also promised to hold regular elections of the Student Faculty Committee (SFC) and drop investigations against students involved in previous protests. The deadline for submitting the PhD scholarship continuation form has been extended from monthly to quarterly.
The health of protesters is deteriorating
The hunger strike, which was initially participated by 16 students, was reduced to just two participants (JNUSU president Dhananjay and councillor Nitish Kumar) due to the deteriorating health of the protesters. JNUSU decided to end the strike due to the deteriorating health of the participants. Dhananjay reportedly lost over five kilos, developed jaundice and suffered from a urinary tract infection, while Nitish Kumar lost around seven kilos and suffered severe joint and muscle pain.
The union acknowledged the deteriorating health of the hunger strikers in a statement: “Due to the deteriorating health of the hunger strikers, JNUSU has decided to call off the hunger strike. However, our struggle is far from over. The mode of protest has changed, but the fight for our demands continues with renewed determination.”
JNUSU general secretary Priyanshi Arya, who is affiliated with the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA), distanced herself from the protest and accused the union members affiliated to the Left of bypassing her consent for the protest.
Despite these concessions, the JNUSU remains critical of the administration’s stance on several issues and maintains that the fight for their demands continues, albeit in a different form.
[With agency inputs]
First published: August 27, 2024 | 12:58 pm IS
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