300 NIIFT students boycott classes

According to the students,the college authorities had promised that,under the course extended by NIFT,their diplomas at NIIFT would be upgraded to a degree. The students,however,rue that no concrete steps have been taken by the college authorities so far and that they are now concerned that their chances of a procuring a degree at the end of the course is under threat.

The students are of the opinion that the authorities are going back on their word and that a diploma is not going to help the students in their career. “I have paid a huge fee for this course and I will not be content with a diploma. There is so much competition in the field that I am going to be much behind the others who have a degree,” said Shweta,a final year student of the undergraduate course in fashion designing.

While the students say that the college authorities have delayed the matter for the last two and a half years,authorities say the students’ reaction is premature.

Director Vishav Bandhu says that an MoU has been sent to NIFT and that everything is moving ‘in a positive direction’. “The process takes its own time but we have eight months to go by the time the final year students will pass out. The students should return to their classes and trust that we have completed the formalities from our side and are now awaiting a response,” said Inderjit Singh,Registrar at NIIFT.

While the proposal remains ‘under process’,students insist on a final date being given to them for the decision to be finalized. “We will sit here till 9 am to 5 pm everyday till we are given a final word on the matter. We have the full support of our parents and,if the need arises,we will take the matter further,” says Sehej,a final year student.