In-house IT cell to cut NU’s dependence on pvt players: VC to BJYM

Nagpur: Vice-Chancellor Manali Kshirsagar on Wednesday finally met activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and told them that Nagpur University was committed to developing its own data centre, information technology cell and supporting infrastructure to reduce dependence on private operators.The Hyderabad-based service provider, Coempt Eduteck Pvt Ltd, which is at the centre of the CBSE OSM controversy, has also come under scrutiny at NU over errors in results and hall tickets affecting over 3.17 lakh students.Earlier, the VC had informed the Senate about the administration's plans to strengthen its IT capabilities to safeguard sensitive student data and examination records.The BJYM delegation met Kshirsagar to discuss pending student issues and pursue its 20-point charter of demands. The meeting assumed significance as it was the fourth time in the last three weeks that the BJP's youth wing had approached the university administration over student-related concerns.During the first visit, protests allegedly turned unruly, and vandalism was reported on the campus, following which an FIR was registered. Subsequently, BJYM members visited the university again and handed over 20 flower pots as compensation for the damage, besides renewing their request for a meeting. This time, the delegation met the VC after obtaining a prior appointment and discussed issues related to examination evaluation, declaration of results and hall tickets.According to BJYM leaders, the university took a positive stand on several issues and has already resolved many urgent concerns.University officials assured the delegation that measures would be put in place to streamline future examinations and ensure prompt redressal of student grievances.Regarding demands for timely release of examination schedules and hall tickets, the university maintained that schedules were announced in advance. In cases where hall tickets were issued late, colleges had delayed submitting examination forms, but the university accepted the applications to prevent academic loss to students. On demands for coolers and drinking water at examination centres, the Vice-Chancellor said directives had already been issued to colleges on May 4 and May 22 and that funds had been arranged for the facilities. She also said she had personally inspected several examination centres.The administration also assured improvements in the handling of withheld results, availability of TR books, revaluation timelines, technical errors in results, internal assessment accountability, answer-sheet evaluation norms, PhD progress reports, appointment of hourly teachers, declaration of autonomous college results, online services, student help centres and basic campus facilities.The delegation included BJYM president Sachin Karare, general secretaries Ritesh Pandey and Rishabh Arakhel, Atharva Trivedi, student wing chief Shantanu Jhade, women's wing head Prashansa Bhoyar and Vaibhav Bavankar.