Post News Network
Rayagada, August 1: More than 100 students of the local government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Saturday staged a sit-in and gheraoed staff protesting ongoing irregularities in the institution.
The students would take to the street, including a dharna at the collectorate if their demands are not met within a fortnight, they warned.
The pent-up resentment among students over last one year erupted Saturday after the examination of a theory paper was delayed by 45 minutes due to shortage of question papers.
The students were also upset over the fact that the examination centre was set up at Therubali. According to them, there are 71 students in fitter department, 13 in machinery, 24 in electronics and 32 in welder. Though they have cleared all dues and submitted the required papers, the authorities are yet to open a library in the institution to help them, the students alleged.
Though hostel facility is available for the students of SC/ST communities, it is plagued by shortage of water. The hostel has no electricity. As the ITI is located on the outskirts of the city, snakes, scorpions and other nocturnal insects slither around the campus.
Hostel inmates are in constant fear of being bitten by them due to lack of electricity in the hostel. Besides, the generator has been lying defunct for a long time, student leaders Raja Nayak, Roul Majhi, K Suresh and others alleged.
The students were further irked by the absence of the principal in the ITI Saturday.
When contacted, the principal of the ITI Atul Kumar Pradhan said he has apprised the higher authorities of the issues raised by the students.
