Mangaluru: Students protest against daily fine for late fee payment at Sri Devi College
Mangaluru: A sudden protest broke out at Sri Devi College in Ballalbagh on Friday after degree students accused the college administration of imposing a fine of Rs 100 per day for delays in paying academic fees.
Students boycotted classes in the morning and gathered on campus to express anger against the management. They claimed that no such penalty clause was mentioned when they were admitted. “Now, the college is forcing us to pay a daily fine of Rs 100 for delayed fee payment and is even charging fines for attendance shortage,” students alleged.
They further said that students arriving after 10 am are not allowed to use the lift. “With classes being held on the sixth floor, we are forced to climb the stairs,” they complained.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) extended support to the students’ protest, terming the college’s action as unfair and against educational ethics. The organisations demanded that Mangalore University and the district administration take strict action against the college.
“The management is not only collecting excessive fines but also pressuring students to pay them. In a six-storey building, there’s only one toilet for every three classrooms per floor, used by over a hundred students. By the time they return from using it, the class period ends. The lack of sanitation facilities is also affecting attendance,” alleged SFI district secretary Vinuṣh Ramana and DYFI district secretary Santosh Bajal.
The two organisations warned that if students who protested are harassed or targeted, they will launch a larger agitation against the college management.
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Trekking without nature guide won't be allowed; Karnataka forest minister releases SOP
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre on Friday said that trekking will no longer be permitted on any approved trekking routes under the forest department, without a certified nature guide equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies.
Speaking after releasing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) formulated for the safety of trekkers, he said that there will be one local nature guide for every 10 trekkers. A maximum of 150 trekkers will be allowed per batch on any trekking route.
According to him, online registration for trekking is mandatory. Even if a single individual registers for a particular day, a guide will still be provided, and trekking without a guide will not be allowed.
He said the SOP was introduced following recent incidents, including a woman from Kerala who went missing for three days in the forests during a trek at Tadiandamol hill in Kodagu, and a minor girl who went missing and was later found dead near Manikyadhara in Chikkamagaluru, which is outside forest jurisdiction.
In a statement, the Khandre's office said that nature guides will be mandatorily equipped with GPS-enabled walkie-talkies on all trekking routes. "Additionally, a mobile app containing trekking route maps will be installed on trekkers' phones. This will help locate trekkers if they lose their way", it said.
As per the SOP, before the trek begins, trekkers will be briefed about the distance, duration, and local conditions.
"Instructions on how to respond if wildlife is encountered will also be provided. Loud devices, sharp metal objects, weapons, and campfires are strictly prohibited on trekking routes," it said.
The SOP further stated that separate toilets for men and women and drinking water facilities will be provided at base camps.
Directional arrow markings will guide trekkers along the route, and rest points will be created along the way, it said.
Citing the SOP, the statement said that nature guides must ensure that no trekker moves ahead of them or is left behind. Headcounts must be conducted at base camps and rest points.
"Guides must communicate with the base camp via walkie-talkie every 30 minutes. If there is no communication within an hour of the trek starting, base camp staff will contact the guide to confirm safety," it said.
The SOP states that minors must carry a consent letter from their parents or guardians, and senior citizens must provide a fitness certificate confirming their physical capability to undertake trekking. To be able to respond to unexpected health issues, trekkers and guides must carry a first aid kit.
However, flash photography, single-use plastics, and carry bags are prohibited and trekkers must bring back their waste and dispose of it only at base camps, as per SOP.
It further said that all trekking routes under the forest department will be integrated into the official website (https://aranyavihaara.karnataka.gov.in/) to enable advance booking of tickets.
