Stranded Students in Pune to be Sent Home, Mayor writes to District Collector for Arrangements

Pune, April 27, 2020: Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol has written a letter to Pune District Collector Naval Kishore Ram for making arrangements to send back stranded students here to their homes in Maharashtra. This comes after review meeting by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on April 25.

“During the review meeting, I had raised the issue of students who are stranded in Pune due to Coronavirus lockdown. The Deputy CM issued an instruction to the District Collector to co-ordinate with other District Collectors and make arrangements for smooth travel of the students back to their villages in different parts of Maharashtra”, Mohol said.

According to students unions, there are thousands of students from different districts who had come to Pune for preparing for competitive exams as well as higher education. Many of them returned while others remained here thinking lockdown will get over soon. As mess and canteens are closed, most of them are dependent on food packets distributed by voluntary groups.

While the students stranded at Kota are set to return to Maharashtra, the students living in Pune were questioning whether the government will do anything for them. Also, the shortage of food supply organizations for more than last month has created a big problem for these students.

More than 3,000 students preparing for competitive exams and other studies are stuck in Pune. Organisations that have been providing meals to students twice since last month have run out of funds. It has become difficult to get help from outside. Therefore, they have been demanding that the state government should make arrangements for the students who are stuck in Pune to go to the village by May 3.

“Many students are stuck in Pune. The government should make arrangements for them to go to the village. As the situation in Pune is deteriorating, there is no guarantee that the students will not get infected”, said Ruch Pawar (22).

Another student, Baban Dadge added, “We are worried about our family as we are stuck in Pune. We are ready for 14 days of isolation after going to the village after health check-up from Pune. If Kota students can come, then the government should make this arrangement for us.”

Mahesh Bade of MPSC Students’ Rights said, “We can provide meals to the students till May 3. But it is becoming difficult to help anymore. The government should take responsibility for the students now.”

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) city president Kalpesh Yadav said, “We have provided food to students for a month. Now the state government should facilitate the students to go to the village so that they do not get sick.”