IIT-Bombay students on relay hunger strike against fee hike

Mumbai: Students of Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay (IIT-B), Powai, are on a relay hunger strike since Monday after the college authority refused to pay heed to their concerns over fee hike.

Followed by a signature drive against the fee hike, the students held a day-long protest in the institute's campus on June 21, NDTV reported.

The students have been protesting for over a month, however, the institute has been skeptical saying that the fees were due for a renovation as there has not been any rise in the past 7-8 years.

Last year, the institute increased the tuition fees, while this year, it raised the charges for other facilities like hostel fee, gymkhana fee, and mess fee.

"We have been protesting for so long, but our voices remain unheard. Hence we began the relay hunger strike. Nine students began the strike on Monday. Officials at the administration building will keep seeing the protesting students there," said a member of Students Against Fee Hike at IIT-B - a student group that is leading the protest.

Reportedly, there is a 300 per cent hike in hostel fees and 167 per cent hike gymkhana fees. To the students, such hikes are unbearable.

An institute spokesperson, however, said, "The director of the institute had met the students after their one-day protest. He has assured them that the committee which took the decision of the fee-hike will consider their request of a rollback. But now, due to the vacation, all committee members are not on campus. Once the academic year begins mid-July, all faculty members will be on campus, and the committee will meet for a discussion. Students have been asked to be patient."