Academic activities stalled in Visva Bharati

KOLKATA - Work came to a halt Thursday in Visva Bharati, founded by Rabindranath Tagore, following an indefinite strike called by its students union protesting against a sudden hike in tuition fees.

The students, under the banner of the Trinamool Congress Chatra Parishad (TMCCP), demonstrated in front of the university office preventing the officials from entering their offices.

The university authorities called an urgent meeting with the students but the latter did not agree with their proposal to cut down the caution money for the newly admitted students.

Chinmoy Hazra, TMCCP’s Visva Bharati unit secretary, said: “Earlier, the tuition fee for day scholars was Rs.18 a month, which has been increased to Rs.100. The residential students who used to pay Rs.600 per month are now paying more than Rs.3,000.”

University spokesperson Amitabha Chowdhury said: “We had no option other than to increase the tuition fees. We agreed to deduct the caution fees by Rs.1,000. But the students are not in agreement.”