Veterinary students in India are on strike demanding stipend hike

Around 2,000 students of four veterinary science colleges of the Indian government-run Kamdhenu University, including 350 students of CVSAH, have been on an indefinite strike since August 1, demanding their monthly stipend to a livable wage.

One more student was sent to a hospital on Sunday after his well being deteriorated on the fifth day of the continued starvation strike by college students, demanding a hike in stipend.

Nirbhay Nandaniya, one of many seven college students on starvation strike since August 10, was rushed to the government-run hospital early Sunday.

Around 2,000 students of four veterinary science colleges of the state government-run Kamdhenu University, have been on an indefinite strike since August 1, demanding their monthly stipend be increased from Rs 4,200 per month to Rs 18,000. They claim the government has not increased the stipend for several years and that current stipend is not sufficient.

Of the 350 students of Junagadh, seven were on indefinite hunger strike from August 10 and five of them have so far been hospitalised and subsequently discharged.

On August 12, three students—Mamta Swamy, Safi Mohammed Nadeep and Kishan Darji were hospitalized. On August 13, another student Gifty Mahida was hospitalised. All of them have since been discharged. The striking students said that Nandaniya was also discharged late Sunday.

“We will continue our strike during the Independence Day celebrations and Janmashtami also if the government doesn’t accept our request,” a student from Junagadh told The Indian Express.