The premier Mass Communication institute, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), in Delhi is in the grip of students’ unrest ever since the exit of KG Suresh, Director-General, on March 31st. His exit has rendered the institute headless, affecting its smooth functioning.
Upset over the lackadaisical attitude of the management, students erupted in protest over a host of decisions taken by the authorities with regard to placements and other academic issues. The protesting students resorted to sloganeering including the Azaadi chant, apparently influenced by neighbouring Left-bastion JNU.
According to sources, students have protested against the authorities of a public sector company who were supposed to conduct interviews for placements. The company, according to protesters, had undertaken a ‘caste census’ in the institute and did not reveal the selection guidelines in advance.
“There was no transparency with regard to the selection process. Students were not told about the selection criteria in advance. This is not acceptable,” said a student-protester, who does not want to be identified.
Facing student protest, another company Tata had to beat a hasty retreat. “We told them to come after the management “sort out the issues” with the students.
At present IIMC doesn’t have a full-time Director-General. K Ganesan, Principal DG, Registrar of Newspapers of India, is holding the additional charge of D-G, IIMC. He is set to retire by May-end. The Additional Director General Manish Desai whose family is based in Mumbai prefers to visit them on weekends and holidays and consequently no one is left to attend to students’ grievances. The students allege that the new DG has not bothered to interact with them after taking charge on March 30. In fact, he has visited the campus only thrice and clears all files from his CGO Complex office, they allege.
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