Student Protests at CCT Dharan
The sit-in protest initiated by students at the Central Campus of Technology (CCT) in Dharan-14 has not yet concluded. Under the leadership of Free Student Union (FSU) President Peshal Raj Karki, students have been protesting for the past month.
They are demanding the fulfillment of a six-point charter, which ranges from faculty registration to financial transparency. Students have been staging a sit-in for one hour daily at the campus's main gate. Despite the protest continuing for a month, the campus administration has remained silent regarding the students' demands.
FSU President Karki stated that the agitation began because the students' futures are jeopardized by mismanagement, a poor academic environment, and a lack of transparency at CCT Dharan.
He highlighted that irregularities in faculty registration, academic quality, financial transparency, campus management, and health insurance have put students in a difficult position.
President Karki explained that the BSc Microbiology and BSc Nutrition and Dietetics programs, which have been running at CCT Dharan for years, are still not registered with the Nepal Health Professional Council (NHPC). This has left the future of the students in uncertainty.
Statement
"The Nutrition and Dietetics faculty, operating under Tribhuvan University (TU) since 2067 BS, has not received Council recognition even after 15 years. Consequently, students who have paid high fees to study are losing opportunities for license examinations, government employment, and other professional avenues."
President Karki noted that although students are graduating in this field every year, the lack of Council registration compels them to work for very low wages in private hospitals or forces them to go abroad.
He further complained that while the campus is an autonomous body, details regarding grants, assistance, and other financial sources received from various government bodies are not made public.
Additionally, he alleged that although 500 Rupees is collected from students for health insurance, no corresponding services or facilities are provided.
Campus Response
Central Campus of Technology, Dharan Chief, Professor Basanta Kumar Rai, stated that the demands raised by the students are in the interest of the campus. He claimed that he has repeatedly called the students for dialogue, but they have not attended. He expressed his readiness to fulfill the demands within the capacity of the campus administration.
