Hundreds of students, teachers and educational rights activists from different organisations and groups in Delhi and outside assembled on the 4rth day of All India Resistance Camp Against Committing Higher Education to WTO at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi organised by AIFRTE (All India Forum for Right To Education). Eminent intellectuals, academicians and activists from across the country including Prof G Hargopal, Prof. Anil Sadgopal, Prof. Nandita Narain, Prof Anand Teltumbde, Dr Sukumar, Dr Nikhil Jain, Sri Ramesh Patnaik, Prof. Joga Singh Virk, Prof. Saraswat, Prof. Sanat Kar, Sri Surjit Thokchom, Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Com. Kuldeep, Prof. O K Yadav, Prof Abha Dev Habib, Sri Pankaj Pushkar, Prof C Sadashiva, Prof Viraj Kafle, Prof Panditaradhya, Com Sivaram, Com Jahangir Aman, Prof Ashok Mukherjee, Com Shatru Ghosh, Com Jyoti Bhushan, Com Ramesh Bijekar, Com Manoj Kumar, Prof Zhatsoe Humtsoe, Sri Pankaj Tyagi, Com Firoz, Com Daman addressed the gathering mobilised by member- and fraternal-organisations of AIFRTE.
The public meet deliberated on the impact of WTO-GATS onslaught on diversity of the country and social justice agenda of the Constitution. It was highlighted by the speakers that once higher education is opened for global trade under WTO regime, whatever gains have been made by the dalit, backward, adivasi and minority communities will be washed away as public-funded system will be dismantled in interests of corporate houses and global capital. Already the public higher education system is reeling under budget cuts. It was pointed out that the agenda of reservations, scholarships and fee concessions for the backward communities would be withdrawn. In addition, the rich diversity of the country will find no place in the academic universe as our institutions will be downgraded with uniform and homogenous curriculum to fit in the needs of global markets.
The Resistance Camp was enlivened by the stirring cultural performances including poetry recital and revolutionary songs sung by several groups from Delhi and outside. A Hindi book on onslaught of WTO on education was also released on the occasion.
The Resistance Camp which started on 7th Dec will continue till 14th December. Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) will mobilize its activists and general public tomorrow.
With Greetings,
