Under the leadership of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad ABVP, thousands of students protested in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha, against the state government’s indifference towards critical issues such as rampant unemployment, women’s safety concerns, illegal trafficking of children, irregularities in educational institutions, and various other pressing matters.
The government’s inaction regarding issues like illegal trafficking of children, scholarships for Scheduled Castes and Tribal students, and the deteriorating condition of women’s safety is significantly impacting the state’s future. Recent incidents of crime related to women in Odisha have been a stain on humanity. Notably, in November alone, the case of harassment against a mentally disabled woman in the Itamati area of Nayagarh district and alleged cases of group assault on three women in Kalahandi district underscored the government’s inefficiency in ensuring women’s safety. ABVP demands immediate action for the resolution of this grave issue from the Odisha government.
The Naveen Patnaik government in the state has consistently blocked student union elections in educational institutions for the sixth time, murdering student leadership. Both teaching and learning in colleges and universities in Odisha are being neglected. Party politics in educational institutions is at its peak, with the students of state-supported student organization, Biju Chhatra Janata Dal, causing chaos on campuses, instilling fear among students.
Yagyawalkya Shukla, ABVP National General Secretary, stated, “The BJD government led by Naveen Patnaik in the state of Odisha has become an embodiment of anti-people policies, creating widespread dissatisfaction among the state’s people. Increasing unemployment, misconduct of women, and social malpractices like illegal trafficking are setting new records daily. Blocking student union elections in educational institutions is like as murdering student leadership, reflecting the anti-student stance of the BJD government. The state of education in Odisha is extremely fragile, and the current government remains inactive on these critical issues. ABVP demands appropriate action from the state government.”
Arijit Patnaik, ABVP Odisha State Secretary, stated, “After a massive student rally by ABVP in 2018, the state government accepted the demand to register college property in the college’s name, but registration in 90% of Odisha’s colleges has not yet happened, which is deeply concerning. No action has been taken so far on the demands of working teachers and lecturers for improvements in quality education, adversely affecting educational operations. Emphasising the recruitment of qualified faculty in vocational and technical education institutions along with a focus on post-education employment opportunities for students is crucial to significantly address the prevalent issue of massive unemployment in the state.”
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