The students’ occupation of the UGC demanding restoration and enhancement of the Non-Net Fellowships continues even as the fire of students’ enthusiasm fails to be dampened by the colder weather.
On 3 November, former UGC member Prof. Yogendra Yadav along with activists from Swaraj Abhiyan, and Prof. Chaman Lal joined the OccupyUGC movement and spent the night with the students. Journalists like Dilip C Mandal and academics like Prof Mary John took Open Classes at the barricades nearly every day.
On 4 November, students held a solidarity rally at Jamia Millia Islamia in support of #OccupyUGC movement. They also organized a protest in DU Arts Faculty and raised slogans against scrapping of non- net fellowship, the WTO and the BJP government.
On 5 November, students, teachers and activists from various Universities in the NCR region held a massive #OccupyUGC March to the MHRD. The sheer strength of students, teachers and activists who had gathered outside MHRD, forced the minister to come out and address the protesters. The students demanded a complete scrapping of the review committee which has been formed by the UGC to “look into” the distribution of Non-Net Fellowship from the next academic session. The Minister refused to make any commitment to students and stood by the press release which was released by MHRD after first round of demonstrations under Ocuppy UGC movement.
The students too refused to budge from their demanded and resolved to continue their movement until and unless higher education becomes a right of every citizen of India.
