Pondicherry Varsity anulls free transport facility, irks pupils

PUDUCHERRY: After hiking fees for all courses from the next academic year 2019-20, Pondicherry University has withdrawn free transportation facility for the students of Puducherry.
The university, which extended free transportation facility since its inception in 1985 will now collect Rs. 4,000 per student for a semester.
The students affiliated to the SFI and other unions staged an agitation in front of university gate demanding the administration to revoke the hike in fees and to continue free transport facilities.
Later representatives of the students’ unions called on registrar in-charge B Chithra and outlined their demands. The registrar in-charge assured them that the university administration will take an appropriate decision after its academic and executive councils convene to discuss about the issues raised by the students.
Meanwhile, Ambedkar Periyar Students Forum submitted a memorandum to the registrar in-charge registering its strong condemnation against the draconian move of the administration to hike the fees and withdraw free transportation facilities.
Member of the forum demanded the administration to issue a new circular before April 4 withdrawing fees hike and extending free transport facilities failing which it will launch an indefinite hunger strike until the demands were met.