After years of anticipation, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s (JNU) Barak Hostel has finally opened its doors to students for allotment. However, the promised 75% reservation for students from India’s north-east region has not been honored, sparking protests and accusations of betrayal by the North East Students’ Forum (NESF).
The Barak Hostel, funded by the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) through the North Eastern Council (NEC), was envisioned as a safe haven to address the longstanding issues of safety, discrimination, and cultural isolation faced by students from the north-east on the JNU campus. Despite an email from the ministry to the JNU vice-chancellor last year, explicitly stating that 75% of the hostel accommodation should be reserved for north-eastern students, the recent inauguration event revealed a different reality.
During the event on April 7, JNU VC Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit declared that Barak would function like other hostels on campus and accept students from all over the country. This decision led to disappointment and frustration among north-eastern students, who felt their years of advocacy and struggle had been disregarded.
Protests and Allegations
The NESF, a student organization representing students from the north-east, expressed deep discontent over the university’s reversal of the reservation policy. The forum accused the VC of going back on the commitment made in the MoU with NEC and disregarding the specific needs and challenges faced by students from the north-east. The comments made by the VC during the protests further exacerbated the situation, leading to a public outcry and demands for immediate action.
According to NESF’s statement released on April 9, scrapping the reservation was seen as a betrayal of the north-eastern community’s struggles and aspirations. The forum demanded a rollback of the allotment list, reinstatement of the 75% reservation, transparency in decision-making processes, and inclusivity in the administration’s approach towards north-eastern students. The release of a detailed timeline outlining the history of the project and the community’s involvement highlighted the long-standing efforts to establish a safe space for north-eastern students on campus.
Call for Action and Resolution
As tensions escalated on campus, the NESF called for immediate action from the university administration to address the grievances of north-eastern students. The demands included not only the restoration of the reservation but also the inclusion of north-eastern students in decision-making processes, provision of authentic cuisine from the region, and a genuine commitment to creating a supportive environment for students from diverse backgrounds.
Despite attempts to reach out to the JNU VC for comment, responses were redirected to the dean of students, who remained silent on the matter. The lack of engagement from the administration further fueled the frustration and sense of alienation felt by students from the north-east, intensifying the calls for accountability and transparency in the university’s policies and practices.
As the situation unfolds, the fate of the Barak Hostel and the future of north-eastern students at JNU remain uncertain. The clash between promises of inclusivity and the realities of implementation underscores the challenges of creating truly equitable and supportive spaces for marginalized communities within academic institutions. The need for dialogue, empathy, and mutual respect between all stakeholders is crucial in moving towards a resolution that upholds the principles of justice and fairness for all students, regardless of their background or origin.
