THE student movement is going through very crucial times in India. It, at present, looks a little ineffective and less sharp as compared to student movements of other countries where they have achieved many important victories. In fact, Indian society has witnessed rapid changes in the past few decades. In the era of neo-liberal economic policies, social values have changed and the social structure is changing. Impact of the capitalist and open market values are deepening in our society. Being an integral part of the society, students are also deeply affected by these changes.

THE Central Executive Committee of the Students’ Federation of India, in a statement issued on January 2, 2016 has strongly condemned the attack on Ramkrishna Chhimpa, district president of the SFI in Churu, Rajasthan by the RSS goons in the midnight on January 3. Around 50 hooligans belonging to the saffron brigade entered into the Kisan Mazdoor Bhavan at Sardar Shahar where Ramkrishna Chhimpa was sleeping and brutally beat him for being actively involved in the SFI activities.

TWO esteemed scholar-activists of Maharashtra, Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Comrade Govind Pansare were shot dead in the last two years in almost identical circumstances. It is widely known that extremist Hindutva outfits like Sanathan Sanstha are behind these killings. Very recently another outspoken scholar M M Kalburgi was also shot dead at his home in Karnataka in similar circumstances.

THE central executive committee of the Students’ Federation of India in a statement issued on October 20, has strongly condemned the latest move of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to scrap non-NET fellowships for the researchers. SFI has urged its units across the nation to be vigilant and be ready to resist any such anti-student moves. Such a move is coming at a juncture when the researchers from all the streams are demanding for an enhancement in non-NET fellowship so that they could pursue their academic endeavour and do quality research.

THE Central Executive Committee of the Students’ Federation of India in a statement issued on March 18, 2015 has condemned the brutal lathicharge on the students’ march to Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha in Shimla on March 18, injuring a large number of students including girl students. State secretary Suresh Sarwal and president Puneet Dhamta were also injured in the lathicharge.