PG students want separate college building

Demanding a separate building for them, postgraduate students of the Government Arts College staged a protest outside the office of Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor N Prabhu Dev in Central College here on Friday.

The students, led by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), complained of lack of facilities in the existing building of the college. According to them, their morning class timings clash with those of the degree students for want of enough classrooms. “There is no independent PG section in the college. We have to share the classrooms with the degree students,” a student said.

The students refused to leave till Prabhu Dev met them and promised to address their concerns. Around 1.50 pm, they moved into the V-C’s office and sat on the floor. They refused to budge till the V-C came out and met them. The policemen deployed at the place struggled to keep the protesters in check and ensure they were at a distance from the V-C.  
Prabhu Dev came out later and assured the protesters of taking their matter up with the officials concerned. He promised to get in touch with officials of the Higher Education Department.

The students also demanded clean toilets, a well-equipped library, clean drinking water, a bus service from Central College campus to Jnanabharathi campus and food at subsidised rates at the Central College canteen.

Besides, they demanded that the monthly scholarship of Rs 500 for Below Poverty Line and single girl students be extended to them as well. At present, the said scholarship is available only to students at BU’s Jnanabharathi campus.