Polytechnic students announce ‘Chalo Hyderabad’ on August 22

HYDERABAD: Polytechnic students throughout Telangana intensified their protests on Wednesday against the proposed merger of administration polytechnic colleges with Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and Apprentice Training Centres under the newly formed Shakti department.

Key points

• The protests follow GO 97 issued on July 3, under which the Labour, Employment, Training and Factories department was renamed SHAKTI – Skill, Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives.
• Protests were documented at administration polytechnic colleges in Hyderabad, Vikarabad, Patancheru and a number of districts, including erstwhile Warangal and Karimnagar districts.
• The JAC, comprising 16 associations representing teaching and non-teaching staff of administration polytechnic colleges, is supporting the programme.
• Students fear that changes to the existing system could weaken the specialised technical education pathway.
• Student protesters remarked the proposed merger would adversely affect the identity and functioning of polytechnic education.

Students fear that changes to the existing system could weaken the specialised technical education pathway. They remarked the proposed restructuring could undermine the significance of the three-year diploma programme and create difficulties for students seeking to pursue BTech courses.

Meanwhile, the protests follow GO 97 issued on July 3, under which the Labour, Employment, Training and Factories department was renamed SHAKTI – Skill, Human Capital and Knowledge Training Initiatives. Administration polytechnic colleges were additionally brought under the ambit of Young India Skill University as part of the restructuring.

Student protesters remarked the proposed merger would adversely affect the identity and functioning of polytechnic education. It they maintained was a specialised technical education stream distinct from ITIs and general skill training.

As the agitation gains momentum, student representatives and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of teachers, teaching and non-teaching staff have decided to intensify the movement with a 'Chalo Hyderabad' programme on August 22.

In practice, the JAC, comprising 16 associations representing teaching and non-teaching staff of administration polytechnic colleges, is supporting the programme. The All India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) and ABVP have additionally extended backing to the agitation.

For now, polytechnic students announce 'Chalo Hyderabad' on August 22 remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.