Bhubaneswar: The Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan, the student wing of the Navnirman Krushak Sangathan (NKS), Wednesday announced plans to gherao the Odisha Assembly September 22, demanding reforms and greater transparency and accountability in the state’s education sector.
The organisation has been observing a satyagraha for the last 28 days against what it described as irregularities and mismanagement in the education system and has also been demanding the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Ganda.
The indefinite hunger strike launched by NKS founder Akshaya Kumar entered its 12th day Wednesday.
In a statement, Kumar said it was unfortunate that democratic governments had failed to understand the importance of non-violent satyagraha, which Mahatma Gandhi had described as a powerful weapon during the freedom struggle.
He alleged that the education system in the state had become dysfunctional and that the government had shown little concern over the shortcomings.
The organisation claimed that the state administration had also failed to come forward for a meaningful discussion on the issues raised by it, despite its alleged responsibility to protect the rights and interests of the people.
Kumar said that as the government had failed to discharge its “moral responsibility”, state coordinator of the Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan M D Manwar Ali had launched the hunger strike and satyagraha.
He alleged that instead of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities, the government had remained indifferent to the issues raised by the organisation.
Meanwhile, Kumar continued his indefinite hunger strike, saying that he was discharging his moral responsibility by exerting pressure on the government through the agitation to bring about reforms in the state’s education system.
In a press statement, he said that if the government did not come forward for talks on its own, it would be responsible for any action that followed.
Several farmer leaders from Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts have extended their support to Kumar’s hunger strike.
The organisation also held discussions with farmer leaders on measures to make the proposed Assembly gherao September 22 successful.
It further announced plans to gherao the Collector’s office September 18 as part of its agitation.
