ABVP members protest over vacant posts at Salooni college

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), staged a protest at Government Degree College, Salooni, on Friday. They latched the main gate and sat outside to demand the immediate filling of vacant teaching and non-teaching positions and the introduction of additional courses.

The protest disrupted regular college activities as faculty, staff, and students were unable to enter the premises. Despite repeated appeals from the college principal and other staff members to unlock the gate, the protesters stood firm, citing the long-standing neglect of their demands by the government, administration, and college management.

The protest continued until Sub-Divisional Officer Naveen Kumar arrived on the scene and assured the ABVP members that their demands would be addressed promptly. Following his assurance, the students unlocked the gate, allowing activities to resume. Kumar told the protestors that their demands would be taken up at the highest level and resolved as early as possible.

Earlier, the ABVP activists expressed their dissatisfaction with the prolonged delay in addressing their issues, particularly the lack of teachers for critical subjects such as English, geography, and music. Several non-teaching staff positions, including those of Superintendent Grade II, Senior Assistant, Clerk, Storekeeper, and Librarian, had also been vacant for an extended period.

Bhavani Thakur, ABVP’s state co-minister, highlighted the impact of the situation on over 350 students. He pointed out that the lack of science courses, such as medical and non-medical studies, forced students from Salooni and nearby remote areas to travel to Chamba for education, which put a significant financial burden on them, making poor students unable to pursue higher studies.

Thakur further emphasised the need to introduce new subjects, including sociology, public administration, journalism, tourism, and music, to broaden educational opportunities at the college. He warned that if their demands were not met soon, the ABVP would intensify its agitation, holding the government, administration, and college management accountable for any consequences.