SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, January 12: The Raj Bhawan has succumbed to teachers’ and students’ agitation and modified the notice for holidays on the Sohrai festival in Sido Kanhu Murmu University (SKMU) Dumka.
On Thursday evening, the Raj Bhawan issued a modified notice declaring four days of holiday from January 12 to 15 in the university.
Teaching and non-teaching staff
The teaching and non-teaching staff and students of postgraduate departments, 26 constituent and affiliated colleges spread in six districts of Santhal Pargana Division demanding the Sohrai Festival holiday locked the gate of SKMU and their institutions on Thursday.
The agitating teachers, non-teaching staff, and students were not even allowed acting vice-chancellor Dr Vimal Prasad Singh and other officials to enter their office in protest against curtailment in the Sohrai festival holidays.
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SKMU leave notification
The Raj Bhawan had on Wednesday issued a leave notification of SKMU in which Sohrai Festival leave was given only one day on Sunday ( January 14). In previous years, the Sohrai Festival holiday was given in SKMU Dumka from January 9 to January 15.
Raj Bhawan’s notification triggered mass protests in six districts of Santhal Pargana Division.
However, in the evening, Raj Bhawan took cognisance of the agitation and modified the notification, giving Sohrai Festival leave at the university.
Festival holiday
“In the Santhal Pargana region, people celebrate the Sohrai Festival, while in other regions of Jharkhand, people observe Tusu Parv. So, we have been demanding leave for the Sohrai Festival in SKMU. The festival holiday should be decided based on priority in a particular region,” said Dr Santosh Kumar Sil, general secretary of SKMU Teachers Association.
The teachers of SKMU, Dr Sujit Kumar Soren, Dr Anjula Murmu, Dr Sharmila Soren, Dr Sushil Tudu, Dr Neeraj Baski, Dr Snehlata Murmu, Dr Poonam Hembram, Dr Hesel Bodiya and Dr Rajesh Yadav welcomed the decision of the Raj Bhawan for modifying the notification timely.
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