NEW DELHI: The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) delegation on Wednesday met with Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) Registrar, Prof. Md Mahtab Alam Rizvi. The delegation, led by the National Convenor of the Association, Nasir Khuehami, raised several concerns and proposed constructive measures to improve the academic and campus experience at the university.
Congratulating Prof. Rizvi on his appointment as the university's Registrar, Nasir Khuehami expressed confidence in his ability to excel in his responsibilities. “We hope that Prof. Rizvi will lead the university toward new heights and restore its past glory,” Khuehami said. He added, “There are fundamental issues that require immediate and focused attention to transform Jamia into a world-class institution and a premier seat of learning.”
During the meeting, Khuehami urged Registrar to prioritize creating a positive and inclusive campus atmosphere by addressing issues such as nepotism, hostel shortages, and anti-student policies with fairness and merit. “We are hopeful that under your leadership, Jamia will make significant strides in education, research, and improving the quality of student life,” Khuehami told Prof. Rizvi. The association also expressed its readiness to collaborate closely with the Registrar to strengthen the institution and enhance the campus experience for students.
Highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by hundreds of Kashmiri students at Jamia, the delegation specifically raised concerns about the acute shortage of on-campus accommodation. Despite the existence of a dedicated hostel for Kashmiri students, built as part of a project initiated in 2012, the majority of rooms are currently occupied by students from other states. This has left many Kashmiri students without adequate housing, forcing them to seek expensive and often unsafe private accommodations in the capital.
Khuehami stressed that resolving the hostel crisis would not only provide much-needed relief to Kashmiri students but also serve as a positive gesture in building trust and confidence among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. He emphasized that the lack of adequate hostel facilities poses significant financial and emotional challenges for both students and their families. The non-availability of hostel facilities, coupled with the fact that the hostel meant for Jammu and Kashmir students is being occupied by students from other states, has forced Kashmiri students to rely on private accommodations, which are often expensive and unsafe.
Prof. Rizvi assured the delegation that he would personally look into the matter and take necessary steps to ease the students’ suffering. He committed to addressing the issue on a merit basis and assured that all grievances would be resolved in a time-bound manner.
He further stated that the university would write to the Jammu and Kashmir government to highlight the hostel crisis and advocate for additional resources. Prof. Rizvi also suggested that Khuehami write to the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, to advocate for the construction of another dedicated hostel for male Kashmiri students. This, he said, would help alleviate the ongoing accommodation challenges. Prof. Rizvi added that the university administration would extend all necessary support in this regard and remain committed to resolving the students' grievances.
The delegation also emphasized the importance of career guidance, internship opportunities, and job placements for students. They urged the Registrar to activate and strengthen the university's internship and placement cell to better serve the student community.
In response, Prof. Rizvi acknowledged the concerns raised and assured the delegation of his commitment to addressing these issues. He stated that the administration is dedicated to working for the welfare of the students and that efforts would be made to resolve all grievances in a fair and transparent manner. The association described the meeting with Prof. Rizvi as highly fruitful. They thanked the Registrar for his attentive hearing and expressed hope that the issues highlighted would be resolved in a time-bound and transparent manner.
