Cuttack’s Shailabala Women’s College students intensify stir for university status

Students of Shailabala Women’s Autonomous College in Cuttack escalated their agitation on Saturday, staging a demonstration in front of the college campus to demand university status for the institution.

The students, who have been protesting for the past 28 days, expressed their frustration after the recent State Budget, tabled on Friday, failed to address their long-pending demand for university recognition. Despite previous sit-in protests and appeals, the students allege that the government has not taken any concrete steps toward fulfilling their request.

Students Raise Slogans and Hold Placards

The protesting students, holding placards and chanting slogans, voiced their disappointment over what they described as the government’s inaction on the matter. They emphasized that granting university status would lead to expanded academic opportunities, improved infrastructure, and greater autonomy for the college.

“We have been protesting silently for days. Yesterday, four colleges were granted university status, but our 113-year-old institution was ignored. The government has shown a step-motherly attitude towards us,” one student questioned, referring to the government's neglect despite Shailabala Women's College's long history.

Call for Dialogue and Formal Declaration

The students have warned that their agitation will continue to intensify if the government does not respond positively. They are calling for dialogue to be initiated at the earliest and for a formal declaration granting university status to Shailabala Women’s College.

Government’s Silence on the Issue

Despite the mounting protests, there was no immediate response from the Higher Education Department regarding the students’ demands at the time of filing this report.

The ongoing protest highlights the long-standing aspirations of students at Shailabala Women’s College, as they seek formal recognition and an institutional upgrade to reflect its historical significance and potential for academic growth.