Students Ignou, in protest against a university move to scrap face-to-face classes from the next academic session, have called for an indefinite relay hunger strike. About 400-500 students opposing the university's decision began demonstrating at the university gate in the Capital.

According to the protesting students, the decision to do away with the face-to-face mode of teaching was rejected in the academic council (supreme body for academic affairs) meeting. However, a high-powered committee of six members formed three months ago by the vice-chancellor not complying with the council's decision went on with the move to scrap classes without notifying it to the student community.

"We have been submitting memorandums to the authorities for so long now. They did not notify the decision to the students. If they want to scrap face-to-face classes now, why did they introduce the concept three years back? The university cannot leave the students in a lurch," says Rohit Kumar, final-year MA student of extension and development studies.

Every 12 hours, four students will replace the ones sitting before for the relay hunger strike. Protesting students claim that the university authorities are deferring the matter so that the examinations will begin and the issue will be lost.

According to reports, the move to scrap classes was rejected in academic council meeting but a six-member committee presided by the vice-chancellor is firm with the decision ignoring academic council’s views.

About 400-500 students began the demonstration by protesting in front of the university gate.  Reports say that the administration has asked for another three weeks to take the final decision. Students worry that exams would start till then and the issue will be lost.

All the students’ communities and some of the faculty members are in support of the protest. Students being on relay hunger strike are replacing the ones sitting for the strike after 12 hours.

Ranjith PM, another student participating on the strike says, "Though all student communities are in our favour, they are not a part of the strike. The administration has asked for another three weeks time after already deferring the issue for more than a month. By then our exams will begin and they will get away with the matter."

Get information on Ignou Grade Card

According to PR Ramanujam, faculty, distance education, Ignou, students are agitating for a valid cause. "The high-powered committee was set up to review the ongoing programmes on campus. The academic council in a meeting held on March 24 had asked the interim vice-chancellor to not take policy decisions or disturb the existing programmes. The acting VC does not hold the power to defy the decision of statutory bodies like the academic council and the board of management. I expect students' views will be discussed at an appropriate forum soon," he says.