Cusat constitutes committee to review students’ fee structure-related demands

Kochi: Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) vice-chancellor M Junaid Bushiri, constituted a seven-member committee to examine the demands raised by students regarding the university’s fee structure.

The action was taken after student outfits at Cusat have been holding protests against the revised fee structure.The committee comprises the convener of syndicate standing committee on finance and purchase, finance officer, V Shivanandan Achari of School of Environmental Studies, Girish Kumaran Thampi B S of department of mechanical engineering, Santhosh Kumar P K, director of Centre for Budget Studies, Preetha Mathew K, principal of Cusat’s College of Engineering, Kuttanad and joint registrar (academic).

Joint registrar will serve as convener of the committee.According to university officials, the committee has been directed to submit its report within two weeks.Student outfits, including SFI and KSU, launched major protests demanding rollback of the revised fee structure. However, KSU withdrew their protests after assurances received from the university vice-chancellor, that the decision would be reconsidered at the next syndicate meeting.

Whereas SFI began an indefinite strike on the issue from Monday.Students alleged that the fee hike was introduced without consulting the student community and argued that it would impose an additional financial burden, particularly on those from economically weaker sections. Students said although the university officially announced only a 5% increase in tuition fees, steep hikes in several administrative charges pushed the overall financial burden on students up by as much as 135%.