AMU VC demands Rs 20 crore from HRD ministry to expand library for girls

New Delhi, Nov 19: To expand the main library of Aligarh Muslim University, vice-chancellor Zameeruddin Shah has sought a Rs 20 crore grant from the HRD ministry. The VC has demanded the grant so that girls from the Women's College can also be accommodated in the Maulana Azad Library in future.

Speaking to TOI, Shah clarified that his sexist remark and said, "It was a simile, referring to his statement that girls in the library would attract boys."

"He stressed he was in favour of girls coming to the library and in June last year wrote to parents asking if they would be fine with their wards travelling unescorted from college to the AMU campus. Barring one, no parent said 'yes'," he was quoted as saying in the daily.

The report further says, in a letter addressed to the HRD ministry, Shah has said, "Despite being open for 18 hours from 8am to 2am for seven days a week it (the library) is always overcrowded. It was constructed to cater to 7,000 students but now the strength is 28,000. It is not at all feasible to take more, we are also examining if it is feasible to get Women's College girls, the problem is of space and we need funds for expansion of the library. I will be projecting a requirement for special allocation of funds to MHRD."

The funds from the grant will also be used to start a bus service for the girls of the college, as it is 3km from the university campus and in the past there have been instances of 'eve-teasing' and 'chain-snatching.'

Earlier, Aligarh Muslim University Women's College Students' Union (AMUWCSU) and AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) protested against alleged "biased media reports" over the issue of access to girls to the university's central Maulana Azad Library and even 'The Times of India' newspaper has been banned in the university campus.

OneIndia News