University of Pune students want hike in stipend, better hostels

The University of Pune (UoP) Students Welfare Association has warned of an agitation during the forthcoming senate meeting to be held on Saturday. The association is peeved about the varsity not heeding to its demands.

Addressing media persons on Wednesday, the general secretary of the association, Suresh Jain said the major demands of the association include increasing the stipend under earn-and-learn scheme, mediclaim, better hostel facilities and reducing the charges for revaluation.

Jain said, “The earn-and-learn scheme for students on the campus pays them Rs20 per hour. This amount has to be increased to Rs40, looking at the increasing prices of
daily commodities and other expenses.’’

Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Yuvak Congress, Nilesh Borate said, “The first year degree students have to pay nearly Rs2,000 for admission forms of various colleges. Instead, the varsity should have one centralised admission form for Rs50 only.’’

The association demanded that the university take steps to reduce the revaluation fee. A student has to pay Rs400 for revaluation of one paper, which is pretty high.

The association demanded that the number of rooms in hostels be increased from the 500 in existence. Besides, locker facilities should also be made available, said Nationalist Congress Students Association head, Arvind Gore.