ABVP Stages Protest Demanding Pending Scholarships and Hostel Reforms

CH NEWS

BELAGAVI

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) staged a state-wide protest on Thursday, demanding the immediate release of pending student scholarships and urgent reforms in hostel facilities. In Belagavi, hundreds of students gathered at Rani Channamma Circle, holding a peaceful road blockade for nearly 30 minutes to raise awareness about their pressing concerns.

Following the demonstration, students marched in a rally to the Deputy Commissioner’s office, where they submitted a memorandum to the government through Additional Deputy Commissioner Vijaykumar Honakeri.

ABVP members emphasized that education is vital for societal progress and criticized the poor implementation of student welfare schemes. They demanded urgent support for rural and economically disadvantaged students, many of whom have been waiting over a year for their scholarships, including Vidyasiri and Raitha Vidyanidhi.

The protest also drew attention to the dire state of hostels. Karnataka has 1,258 hostels under the Backward Classes Welfare Department and 1,972 under the Social Welfare Department, housing over 3.5 lakh students. However, only 40–50% of applicants secure a seat, leaving many without accommodation.

The students’ charter of demands included completing hostel admissions, providing basic kits to residents, raising the food allowance from ₹1,850, constructing new hostels to meet rising demand, and releasing all pending scholarships without further delay.

State Organizational Secretary Sachin Hiremath, District Convenor Kushal Ghodageri, and student leaders Lingaraj Pujeri, Darshan, and Madhu led the protest, which saw participation from hundreds of concerned students from across the district.