Nida Sultan and Azmat Ali
NEW DELHI — Students, teaching staff and non-teaching employees of Mewat Engineering College (Waqf), located in Palla village in Haryana’s Nuh district, have been protesting over inadequate infrastructure, poor hostel conditions, faculty shortages and pending staff salaries and promotions.
The protest, which has continued for a month, includes demands for improvements to academic facilities, the repair of hostel buildings and the resolution of employment-related grievances.
Established in 2010 by the Haryana Waqf Board, the college was set up to provide technical education to students from different communities, particularly those from the Muslim-majority Mewat region.
Approximately 744 students from 15 states are currently enrolled in five engineering disciplines. Around 150 students reside in the college hostels. They have alleged that the hostel buildings have cracked walls, crumbling plaster and exposed iron rods, and have called for immediate repairs and maintenance.
Students submit 16-point charter of demands
The protesting students have submitted a 16-point charter of demands, which includes the appointment of additional faculty members, a dedicated training and placement officer, upgraded laboratories, smart classrooms, functional teaching equipment and an adequate supply of essential books and updated library resources.
Their demands also include the installation of CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi facilities across the college and hostels, the construction of a 500-seat auditorium, improved sports facilities, a gymnasium and playgrounds. They have also sought monthly industrial visits and the organisation of cultural activities.
Regarding facilities in the college and hostels, students have demanded access to clean drinking water, a hygienic canteen, better food, washing machines in both boys’ and girls’ hostels, a common room, round-the-clock medical facilities and transportation services.
The charter also includes demands for research facilities, practical training and laboratory support, entrepreneurship and incubation opportunities. Students have sought a mechanism at the college level to address examination-result and degree-related issues.
Employment concerns
The protest also involves teaching and non-teaching employees, who have submitted a separate 14-point charter of demands concerning salaries, pay scales, promotions and employment conditions.
Their demands include the regularisation of contractual employees, timely payment of monthly salaries, an increase in the honorarium for guest faculty to Rs. 1,500 per lecture, subject to a monthly ceiling of Rs. 50,000, medical reimbursement, children’s education allowance, leave travel concession and a special allowance for employees working in the Mewat region.
The employees have also demanded the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, along with applicable Dearness Allowance (DA) and arrears. Other demands include annual increments and promotions for regular teaching staff in accordance with All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) norms.
According to the employees, DA has reportedly remained unpaid since 2018, while several teachers have been working without promotions or annual increments for approximately 15 years.
On 6 October, Aftab Ahmed, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nuh, wrote to the Haryana government, drawing attention to the concerns raised by the protesting employees.
Waqf Board’s Response
Chaudhary Zakir Hussain, administrator of the Haryana Waqf Board, responded to the demands in a statement reported by The Tribune on 17 October.
According to the report, Hussain stated that approximately Rs 62 crore had been spent on the college. He also said that the hostel buildings were not unsafe and attributed the cracks to poor construction. Regarding maintenance and repairs, he stated that Rs 8 lakh had been released. He further said that Rs 80 lakh had been allocated towards clearing three months of pending staff salaries.
On 19 October, students and teachers marched to the Nuh mini-secretariat and submitted a memorandum. Among their demands was the inclusion of the college under the Central Waqf Board or its transfer to the Haryana government. The protesters also alleged that the college’s governing body had not held a meeting since 2018.
Students allege lack of progress in discussions
Kaif (pseudonym), a second-year Computer Science and Engineering student, told Nida Sultan that an earlier meeting with the administration had not resulted in a resolution of the issues raised by the protesters. He said that the protest had continued for approximately a month and that two students had also undertaken a hunger strike.
Kaif further alleged that the administration intended to close the college to gain control of its land, which he estimated to be worth Rs 300 crore. He also made allegations concerning the administrator’s previous involvement in the occupation of Waqf properties. These allegations have not been independently verified.
State Govt’s Intervention Sought
The students have sought the intervention of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini to address their demands. They have also appealed to students at Jamia Millia Islamia, Aligarh Muslim University and Jawaharlal Nehru University to support their protest and raise awareness about the issues facing the institution.
They have called on activists to participate in the protest and support their demands concerning educational facilities and institutional accountability.
Established to provide engineering education and career opportunities to students in the Mewat region, Mewat Engineering College is currently facing demands relating to infrastructure, academic facilities, hostel maintenance and staff employment conditions.
The protesting students and employees have called for discussions with the relevant authorities and action on their respective charters of demands.
