Over 35,000 students protest against encroachments in Malegaon

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Over 35,000 students protest against encroachments in Malegaon

All our complaints in the past have resulted in more encroachments in the area which hosts three leading institutions of the city having more than 25,000 students, Nehal Ansari says

Thursday January 10, 2019 7:55 PM, ummid.com Staff Reporter

[How can we study when right outside our classrooms music is played in full sound, and heavy traffic and vehicles honking in high decibel sound is a norm in our school surrounding? a class 7th girl student asks. (Photo: ummid.com)]

Malegaon (Maharashtra): Over 35,000 students from about two-dozen schools and colleges on Thursday hit the streets to protest against rampant encroachment surrounding the premises of the educational institutions, the adjoining roads and streets, and in other parts of Malegaon.

"What can be more ironic than the fact that the students, a large number of them being girls of 8 to 10 years of age, are compelled to protest and hit streets for a simple demand to clear encroachment surrounding the premises of their schools and colleges?" Ansari Nehal Ahmed, Chairman of J.A.T. Campus, said the Commissioner of Malegaon Municipal Corporation (MMC).

He said his institution has written to local and higher authorities, including the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, a number of times in the past 20 years. But no concrete decision has been taken by the local authorities.

"All our complaints in the past have resulted in more encroachments in the area which hosts three leading institutions of the city having more than 25,000 students", he said.

"Now it has become a fashion for our politicians to talk about importance of education and studies. But, how can we study when right outside our classrooms music is played in full sound, and heavy traffic and vehicles honking in high decibel sound is a norm in our school surrounding?" a class 7th girl student asked while talking to ummid.com.

Earlier in the morning Thursday, hundreds of thousands of students from A.T.T. High School & Junior College, J.A.T. Girls High School & Junior College, J.A.T. College of Education, Kakani High School, Sardar High School, Malegaon High School, Malegaon Girls High School, Nishat High School, Haroon Ansari Boys School, Zainab English Medium School, SWES Model School, Naeem Shaheen High School and Junior College and others marched on the streets before gathering near Shahidon Ki Yadgaar, Qedwai Road.

Activist Rizwan Batterywala and his group "Atikarman Mukt Malegaon" had mobilised the support for today's protest march. Talking to ummid.com Rizwan Batterywala slammed the current Mayor who is his first press meet after taking charge of office had promised action against encroachers.

Students Protest in Malegaon

[Asif Shaikh proudly projects himself as "Taleem Dost" MLA. I am asking him, more than 35,000 students are sitting here demanding action against encroachment, will he take any action at least now? Rizwan Batterywala asks. (Photo: ummid.com)]

"Where has his promise gone? Shaikh Rasheed is the Mayor of the City and his son is Asif Shaikh is MLA. Their Congress party is ruling the civic body. They won the elections promising action against encroachment. Now (after winning the elections) why they are shielding them?", he asked.

"Asif Shaikh proudly projects himself as "Taleem Dost" MLA. I am asking him, more than 35,000 students are sitting here demanding action against encroachment, will he take any action at least now?" he asked.

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The protest rally was also addressed by students who shared the daily trauma they face while coming to their schools and going back. Talking to the students and school management it was also learnt that as many as six students have died and a number of others have been injured in accidents because of the encroachment near the schools.

"I myself saw Shamim, a student. He met an accident just near the main gate of my school. Nobody came to his rescue. Fellow students somehow brought him inside the school and he was later shifted to a hospital. He was bed ridden for whole two months. Who is responsible for such a situation?" a girl student asked.

The rally ended after giving an ultimatum of 07 days to the Malegaon Municipal Corporation to clear encroachment surrounding the schools and other parts of the city. "We will wait for 07 days. If no action is taken I will set myself afire inside Municipal Commissioner's office", Rizwan Batterywala said.

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