SFI members protest at Periyar University seeking student elections

SALEM: Members of Students Federation of India (SFI) conducted a protest in front of Periyar University near Omalur in Salem district on Wednesday for permission to conduct student elections in arts and science colleges in Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
"The university has not given us permission to conduct elections in arts and science colleges in these four districts," said A Kannan, state deputy secretary, SFI.He also said that all the constituent colleges have to be converted into government institutions. "The Periyar University has eight constituent arts and science colleges in the four districts. They must be declared as government colleges so that they will be eligible for state funds to improve their facilities," he added.
The protestors also said that more than 100 vacancies including teaching and non-teaching posts are vacant in many of the government arts and science colleges. "Most of the arts and science colleges in Salem region are running without adequate lecturers and professors. Similarly, several non-teaching posts including that of typist, clerks and superintendents are also lying vacant in many colleges. These posts must be filled at the earliest," Kannan said.
Omalur police arrived at the spot and arrested 208 students including girls for trying to lay siege to Periyar University without obtaining permission from the police. All the protestors were kept in a marriage hall in Omalur and released in the evening.