Lucknow students block road over school woes, minister stuck in traffic steps in

A police officer said they were demanding more teachers, better mess facilities, and other improvements, including upgrades to the coaching provided at the institution.

The standoff was finally resolved in an unexpected way: UP Welfare Department Minister Asim Arun, whose own vehicle happened to get caught in the resulting traffic snarl, intervened.

UP Welfare Department Minister Asim Arun speaks to the group of protesting students. (Special Arrangement)

Sources said he stepped out and walked over to where the students were gathered. He asked them to lift the blockade and come inside the campus for a proper discussion of their concerns, and promptly summoned other departmental officials to join him there.

It was only after this that the protesting students agreed to clear the road.

The minister spent close to two hours speaking with the students, listening to their grievances, and assuring them that these would be addressed soon.

As per sources, owing to an ongoing court case, several teachers had not been taking classes, affecting the children’s education.

According to officials, the minister said the students were protesting for better academic standards, even as he maintained that studies at the institution were proceeding well.

He noted that the students were also demanding improvements to the coaching programme run by the department, and assured them that such improvements would be made.

The minister also directed that teachers and other staff be required to reside within the campus itself, which is equipped with both a staff hostel and transit hostels for this purpose.

Suresh Singh, Station House Officer of Para police station, said the protest lasted for around 15 minutes before the minister arrived, following which the blockade was lifted.