Chandigarh: The Ambedkar Students’ Forum (ASF) Friday intensified its protest outside the Panjab University vice-chancellor’s office, with two members beginning a hunger strike over the demand for age relaxation for persons with disabilities (PWD) in the PUCSC elections.The protest entered its fourth day, with ASF alleging that despite assurances from university authorities Wednesday that necessary action would be taken, no official communication had been issued on the matter.The forum has been protesting since Aug 24, seeking age relaxation and greater representation of students with disabilities in student elections. The issue came to the fore after the nomination of visually impaired student Naresh Kumar was kept under legal consideration over the upper age limit.ASF claimed that a university committee had already taken a decision on age relaxation for PWD students but said a formal notification was needed to remove ambiguity and ensure implementation.“Merely taking a decision is not enough. Students need an official written notification so that the decision is formally implemented,” the organisation said in a statement.The forum said it would continue the protest until the university formally communicates its decision.ASF urged the administration to honour the assurances made to protesting students, maintaining that its demand is aimed at ensuring equal rights, representation and participation for students with disabilities.The development comes days ahead of the PUCSC elections scheduled for Aug 31.
