Adivasi students demand Santhali teachers at Ghatshila College

JAMSHEDPUR: Members of Adivasi Chatra Sangh staged demonstrations and blocked the Ghatshila College gate for a few hours on Thursday, demanding the appointment of teaching staff for Santhali language in both undergraduate and post-graduate classes.

Fani Tuddu of the Sangh said, “Ghatshila College was set up in a tribal-dominated area so that locals do not have to go to Jamshedpur, which is 45km away, to study UG and PG courses.” He added that there are more than 800 students in the college and a large chunk who wants to study the Santhali language cannot do so for lack of teachers.
District president of the Sangh, Supai Soren, said in the past, the Sangh members had met the college authorities and even submitted a memorandum to the Kolhan University vice-chancellor but no action has been taken to fulfil the demands. That is why the Sangh decided to stage demonstrations outside the college.

Soren said after the death of Kishori Mohan Hansda, head of the department of Santali language in Ghatshila College, two years ago, not a single teacher has been appointed.


He said professor of the English department Naresh Kumar met the student delegation as the principal was absent. Soren said Kumar communicated the whole incident to the principal over the phone. Kumar, on behalf of the principal, assured the students that the authorities would look into the matter and try to resolve it as soon as possible.