Kolkata, Dec 24 (NationPress) The Governor of West Bengal, C.V. Ananda Bose, expressed on Wednesday that the state is currently grappling with two escalating issues—violence and corruption.

He noted that these concerns are not only prevalent in society but are also mirrored within the university campuses across the state.

Governor Ananda Bose, who holds the position of Chancellor at Jadavpur University, made these remarks during the university's 68th annual convocation.

He emphasized that the societal malaise is infiltrating educational institutions in West Bengal.

When questioned about the student protests at Jadavpur University and the necessity for enhanced security measures, Governor Ananda Bose asserted that violence within campus boundaries would be absolutely unacceptable.

He stated, "A university campus is not an isolated island. When violence and corruption become widespread in society, their influence extends to the education system. The happenings within the campus are essentially a reflection of external events. Therefore, merely enforcing strict regulations within educational institutions will not remedy the situation; a holistic social and administrative approach is imperative."

"Violence on university grounds will not be condoned in any situation. While the freedom to express and protest is a fundamental democratic right for students, it is essential that these activities do not escalate into violence. Both the authorities and students must collaborate to ensure an environment conducive to education," he added.

Addressing the issue of corruption within the education sector, Governor Ananda Bose remarked, "Administrative irregularities and unlawful decisions undermine the foundation of the education system. The repercussions of past erroneous decisions are now evident in various challenges we face today."

He asserted that transparency and legal integrity are critical to effectively governing universities.

In addition, Governor Ananda Bose announced that awards will be instituted by the Raj Bhavan in the future.

These awards are set to commence from the next convocation ceremony.

After a gap of two years, the convocation at Jadavpur University took place on Wednesday.

He shared that a total of seven awards will be conferred at the university.

These awards will be distributed among postgraduate students, undergraduate students, faculty, non-teaching staff, and administrative personnel, as mentioned during his address.

Each award will carry a value of 25,000 rupees.

It has been confirmed that these awards will be granted by the Governor's office.

The specific categories for the awards are yet to be finalized.

However, it has been indicated that they will be awarded starting from next year’s convocation.

On another note, the Jadavpur University Chancellor faced protests upon his arrival at the convocation.

Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a demonstration.

Regarding the protest occurring outside the convocation venue on campus, an SFI member stated, "We have consistently demanded elections for the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at Jadavpur University. As the Governor oversees our university, we felt it was essential to express our demands to him during the convocation."

"In addition to elections, students have various other grievances," he added.

The student further mentioned that despite Jadavpur University being a five-star institution, it is plagued with numerous infrastructural issues that hinder effective class conduction.

"The college laboratories also lack sufficient equipment, leading to significant challenges for students. Moreover, the need for increased security personnel is evident, as there are often insufficient security staff present," he highlighted.

In response to the protests on convocation day, Governor Ananda Bose remarked, "Protesting is a democratic right for students. The Raj Bhavan is now Lok Bhavan (People's House), allowing them to meet me at any time."

Following the ceremony, two representatives from the SFI approached Governor Ananda Bose to submit a memorandum.