BANGALORE: Disgruntled postgraduate students of Government Arts College (GAC) on Friday gheraoed Bangalore University Vice-Chancellor Dr N Prabhu Dev’s office in Central College campus demanding an independent PG building.
Close to 30 students from the PG Arts Department gathered at Central College around 11 am to voice their requirements to V-C Prabhu Dev. Their primary demand was the establishment of an independent building for conducting PG classes at GAC. The protest was spearheaded by Students Federation of India.
“Without an independent building, we have classes for 2-3 hours every morning. This clashes with the timings of degree students. The PG department needs to have an environment of its own,” said a GAC student.
Some of their other demands are construction of clean washrooms, proper library facilities, supply of clean drinking water, transportation (bus) facility from Central College to Jnana Bharathi campus and minimal rates on food items in the Central College canteen.
The students also demanded that the `500 per month scholarship for below poverty line (BPL) and single girl students, a benefit currently enjoyed by students at Jnana Bharathi, be extended to students of GAC as well. Around 1.50 pm, the students moved into his office premises and sat on the floor, refusing to move out until V-C Prabhu Dev came out and addressed them. Fearing an untoward incident, police personnel swung into action and ensured that the students maintained distance from the V-C, who came out of his chamber.
Prabhu Dev assured students that he would take the matter up with the concerned officials. “I will speak to officials from the Higher Education department. I will make sure that your problems are addressed,” he said.