A delegation from the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) met with protesting students and parents from Kashmir enrolled in the B.Sc Nursing program at Mewar University in Rajasthan. The students expressed worry over the alleged lack of recognition for the course and the detention of students following a campus protest. The JKSA delegation, led by State President Mubashir Ahmad and others, listened to the families’ concerns about academic uncertainty and student safety.
The JKSA assured the protesters that they would take up the matter with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Many affected students had secured admission under an educational initiative linked to the Indian Army’s Sadbhavana outreach program. Over 50 Kashmiri students currently pursuing the B.Sc Nursing program at Mewar University are facing deep anxiety about the recognition of their degrees.
The students had enrolled in the program believing it had necessary approvals from the Indian Nursing Council and the Rajasthan Nursing Council. However, concerns arose when they discovered that the program may lack mandatory approvals, potentially affecting their professional registration and employment prospects in the nursing sector. The students sought clarification from the university administration but were reportedly met with unsatisfactory responses.
Allegedly, instead of addressing the students’ concerns, the university administration took coercive actions, including registering an FIR against 17 Kashmiri students involved in the protest. The students were detained and later released after nearly two days. Additionally, 33 students were suspended, intensifying distress among the affected students and their families. The JKSA is advocating for the revocation of FIRs, withdrawal of suspension orders, and an impartial inquiry into the students’ allegations.
The Association emphasized the urgency of securing necessary approvals for the program or facilitating students’ migration to a recognized institution. Many affected students, hailing from middle-class and economically weaker backgrounds, relied on scholarships and financial aid to pursue education outside Jammu and Kashmir. The program, part of the Army’s Sadbhavana initiative, aimed to empower Kashmiri youth through education but has now caused distress and alienation among students and families.
