Tuensang: College students stage protest for buses & proper roads

September 1, 2023 41 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Tuensang | September 1

Students of Sao Chang Government College (SCC) in Tuensang staged a silent protest at Clock Tower junction in Tuensang town on August 31 demanding proper transportation. The protest was initiated by the Chang Students’ Union Sao Chang College (CSUSCC) and saw a turnout of all the students, who demanded “proper and good roads.”

James Chang, President, CSUSCC, stated that each student had contributed Rs 2,000 for the bus service, but the buses frequently broke down due to their age and the poor road conditions. He called on the students to demand answers in deeds, not just words from the authorities, and mentioned that they had previously approached legislators and the administration regarding the issues, but to no avail. He emphasized that the lack of good buses, better road conditions, and good classrooms was destroying the lives of the students and that they would not stop protesting until their demands were met.

The former General Secretary of SCC stated that the poor road conditions and shortage of buses were a matter of “life and death” and were hampering the growth of the students. He urged the Government of Nagaland to replace the old rusted buses with new ones, as the present buses’ condition was so poor that there had been several instances of students narrowly escaping fatal accidents. He also mentioned that the college authorities had suggested that the students stay in the college hostel, but it could only accommodate 100 students out of the total of 668.

The present General Secretary of SCC said that the four old and accident-prone buses were not enough to accommodate all the students, and the students had to hire vehicles to reach college on many occasions. He emphasized that Sao Chang College is the only college for students from the districts of Tuensang, Noklak, and Shamator, and the concerned authorities were not taking their grievances seriously. He cautioned that if they did not fight now, the future would also face the same problem.

The students of SCC submitted an application to the Vice-Principal (Principal in-charge), Sao Chang Government College, demanding regular and sufficient bus service for the students. The application highlighted the hurdles faced by the students in attending regular classes and ongoing internal exams due to the poor condition of the college bus, which frequently broke down.

Despite paying the bus maintenance fee during admission and raising the issue for a long time, the college authority had paid no heed, the students said.

Meanwhile, the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), Grievances Cell also demanded immediate allocation of buses and road construction from Tuensang Town to Sao Chang College.

A press release from the NPCC Grievances Cell said that the 7 km stretch of road from Tuensang Town to Sao Chang College is in the “worst condition.”

“There is only one government college for Tuensang and Noklak district, with enrollment of 668, where 4 outdated buses are available, out of which only 3 are partially functional and for that reason students often face difficulties and miss their class many a times due to transportation problem and breakdown of outdated buses,” the NPCC said.

The NPCC pointed out that students have approached the elected member and the DC of the area through written and verbal representations; “but so far their grievances have not been addressed due to which the students had to protests in the middle of the town on August 31.”

Further, the NPCC expressed concern that the college is functioning without a principal for almost 4 to 5 years (one was deputed as principal on September 2022 but was released again on May 2023).

It called upon the concerned authority to immediately resolve the issues.