The University of Madras – No toilets or toilets stinking without pipes, water or leaking; no drinking water, canteen; demonstration by students going on for years!
Madras University good to worst vice versa: The University of Madras has been one of the reputed, premier academic institutins of India and world also. Many foreign students come here to study, as it has many world-class subjects, facilities and chairs for learning and research also. Of course, these have been lop-sided issues affecting the academic, mainly due to political appointments from VC to the clerk. Thus, at once so many corruption charges are reported and yet, students concentrating in the studies, study hard, score marks and going out with laurels. Thus, it has been with mixed conditions, position and environment all together functioning in its own way. Yes, because of the majority of goodness, virtues and standards, the academics have been going on. Yet, considering such lacuna, corruption and violations, others can also change to bring good reputation to their University. Therefore, the following incidents should also be avoided, as none could accept such irregularities, as they have been glaring.
March 2015 Madras University students protested for drinking water, toilets etc: Exasperated by what students claim is the lack of basic amenities on Chepauk campus of the University of Madras, over 300 students and professors from several departments gheraoed the Vice-Chancellor R Thandavan at his office inside the Centenary Building on Tuesday (March 2015). Postgraduate students and research scholars at Madras University staged a demonstration on the main campus to protest against poor sanitation and to demand drinking water[1]. They accused the management of being corrupt and not using funds to provide students with basic infrastructure. In other words, where the funds meant for were going had to be explained and accounted.
Professors too questioned joining the students: Other demands that were raised during the three-hour protest included preservation of traditional books at the university library, better Internet facilities with WiFi connectivity and even permission to conduct university elections in order to address students’ grievances through representatives. S Meenakshi, a final year student of MA (English Literature), added that there were no student representatives in the college to address issues like these. “We want somebody who can take students’ issues to the authorities. That’s why we want elections,” she said. Some irate students tried entering the V-C’s room, even as management struggled to pacify them. Students and a few professors – including members of unions like SFI and Students Youth Social Movement – sat on the ground outside Thandavan’s office raising slogans. Some had the demands charted out on a piece of paper, which they held aloft.
What Professors pointed out specifically: The professors who were part of the protest speaking to Express said the issues had been raised on many occasions before. “Letters have been sent to the vice-chancellor before this. There’s no water for washing hands. I go to the toilet to wash my hands after eating lunch in my room,” said Professor Ramu Manivannan, head, the Department of Politics and Public Administration. He added: “There is an amount allocated in the budget for a Reverse Osmosis plant. But there is no plant. There is corruption deep rooted within.” Professor Abdul Rahman, a faculty at the Department of Islamic Studies, went a step ahead saying that the students were forced to live in “sub-human” conditions in the hostel[2]. “More and more departments have come up over the years but the infrastructure has remained the same,” he added. Professor Manivannan told Express that they would continue to protest till all the issues were addressed. “You don’t need one month’s time to solve all these issues. We will protest again in case the Vice-Chancellor does not keep his promise of delivering 10 water cans to each department,” he said. Prof. Ramu Manivanan, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Madras, stepped down from the post[3].
Was Manivannan victimized?: Noted professor and head of the Politics and Public Administration department at the University of Madras, Ramu Manivannan, staged a sit-in protest at the campus on Thursday (January 2021) alleging salary discrepancies[4]. Manivannan has been known to openly criticise incidents of corruption, improper management of funds and malpractice. Manivannan told Express that he’s being targeted to be silenced and, “to teach a lesson to others who want to challenge the system.” He claimed he has not been paid for the last seven months, and up to Rs 18 lakh has not been released from his pension fund. “I will be retiring in June. They have said there is a discrepancy of pay only a few months before I’m leaving,” he said. In late 2019, the university intimated that he was wrongly promoted to the post of associate professor, Manivannan said. “In 2006-07 nationally there was a change in nomenclature of my designation to associate professor as mandated by the UGC. It was not technically a promotion. All those who worked with me had the changed title,” he said, adding that his salary base has been cut since 2009. “The syndicate had also passed a resolution saying it was the mistake of the university and therefore, the university must pay this. Yet Rs 18 lakh has been deducted from my pension funds,” he rued. Speaking to Express S Gowri, the Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of the University of Madras said there are issues with the financial audit and that the university is looking into them. “There is an audit objection,” he said[5].
VC promised in March 2015 everything would be set right within a month: More than 200 students sat in front of the office of vice-chancellor R Thandavan. When the attempts of the staff members to stop the protest proved futile, Thandavan came met the protesters. He promised them that all the issues would be solved in a month and drinking water cans would be provided for all department starting Wednesday. Four representatives of students would oversee that the promised facilities are provided. The students also said that they wanted a student’s union to be formed to find a permanent solution to all their issues. “Drinking water has always been a problem for us. Drinking water taps are next to the toilets. The toilets are filthy and unhygienic,” a student of public administration said. But, it is evident that such a promise was not carried on, as the issues still continue even after eight years.
Canteen closed down in 2016 and there is no canteen in the University campus: A year 2015-after a canteen was opened on the Marina campus of the University of Madras following students’ demand, it was closed down recently in April 2016, ironically owing to protests from the students[6]. Here, also, it is evident that big racket has been going on. At one side, none has been willing to set up a canteen within the campus and on the other end, those who ave been doing good business around the campus compound wall do not want any canteen to come up within the campus. It is just like private bus operators bribing the government but operators to cooperate with them. As such manipulations, corruption and violations have been taking place with the blessings of the politicians, dadhas and mafias, the general public many times to without any protest.
April 2023 – Madras University students protested for drinking water, toilets etc: On 05-04-2023, the students of Madras University, both boys and girls staged a demonstration in front of the VC office and as well as at the main entrance of the Administrative building[7]. The police came at both the places and controlled the students, though, they were shouting slogans in a peaceful manner. Later, they dispersed, as the Registrar gave an assurance letter to rectify all problems. But the point is how the same problems could continue to exist from 2015 to 2023, when every year, amounts have been reportedly spent for the purpose.
© Vedaprakash
06-04-2023
[1] Times of India, Madras University students stage protest to demand drinking water, DIVYA CHANDRABABU / TNN / Updated: Mar 3, 2015, 19:31 IST.
[2] Indian Express, Madras Univ Students, Faculty Stage Protest, By Express News Service, Published: 04th March 2015 06:03 AM | Last Updated: 04th March 2015 06:03 AM | A+A A-
[3] The Hindu, Madras University HoD asked to step down, August 10, 2015 12:00 am | Updated March 29, 2016 02:16 pm IST – CHENNAI:SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
[4] Indian Express, University of Madras professor protests alleging pay discrepancy, Published: 22nd January 2021 05:47 AM | Last Updated: 22nd January 2021 05:47 AM.
[5] https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/jan/22/university-of-madrasprofessor-protests-alleging-pay-discrepancy-2253417.html
[6] The Hindu, Curtains for Madras varsity canteen, April 05, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:48 am IST – CHENNAI: R. SUJATHA
https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/curtains-for-madras-varsity-canteen/article8435688.ece
[7] Only few Tamil media has reported on 06-04-2023, perhaps, the English media would pick up later.
Academic Degradation and Corruption 