Strike on, OUAT students in no mood to relent

BHUBANESWAR: The agitation by the students of College of Forestry under the Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) intensified with the college authorities threatening closure of the college sine die and the students threatening to ‘sacrifice’ their lives if their demands are not met.    The forestry students are on a strike for 54 days, demanding that B. Sc. Forestry degree be made the minimum qualification for the post of Range officers in the State Forest department. These 54 days saw numerous developments. The students have alleged that the college authorities on one hand, have ignored their demands and on the other, they have asked the parents of the agitating students to stop their wards from participating in agitation.The OUAT vice chancellor DP Ray had recently assured the agitating students that their demands will be addressed shortly and a solution will be reached. However, the students demands have not been met.The students had gheraoed the OUAT vice chancellor’s office on Friday and simultaneously released a statement that stated that they would attempt on self-immolation on April 25 if their demands were not met. The university officials, panicked and then requested the students for additional time to fulfil their demands. The College of Forestry is the one of its kind college in the state that provides a four year course specialising in the field. “It is really painful when students do not get jobs after four years of hard work, said Manoj Behera, one of the agitating student.    The students are demanding that either the Forestry Department Students be provided with jobs or the admissions to the college be stopped. “If the State Government decides that the forestry college is no longer needed, then they should close it. This will prevent future students ruining their lives by taking admission into the college,” added Manoj. Presently, any student with a graduation in science can apply for the post of a Range officer. This makes it unfair for the forestry students, who are trained for the specific purpose.