Srinagar, March 13 (NationPress) A delegation from the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) convened on Friday with students and parents of Kashmiri individuals enrolled in the B.Sc Nursing program at Mewar University located in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. This gathering followed a demonstration held in Srinagar, where concerns were raised regarding the perceived lack of recognition for the course and the detention of students after a campus protest.

During this meeting, Nasir Kheuhami, the National Convenor of JKSA, stated, "The JKSA delegation, led by our State President Mubashir Ahmad and accompanied by Coordinator Reshi Showkat and other members, attentively listened to the worries expressed by families about the academic uncertainty and safety of their children studying outside of Jammu and Kashmir."

Kheuhami assured the concerned parents and students that a delegation, headed by him, would approach Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to address these issues, especially since many affected students had gained admission through an educational initiative associated with the Indian Army's Sadbhavana outreach program, aimed at assisting students from Jammu and Kashmir.

This situation has instilled significant anxiety among over 50 Kashmiri students enrolled in the B.Sc Nursing program at Mewar University, many of whom are nearing the final semesters of their four-year degree, according to Kheuhami.

Students initially enrolled in this program under the assumption that it possessed the necessary statutory approvals from the Indian Nursing Council and Rajasthan Nursing Council, the regulatory bodies governing nursing education and professional registration in India.

However, recent revelations have raised serious concerns, as students allegedly discovered that the program may lack the requisite approvals from the aforementioned councils, leading to fears that their degrees might not be recognized for professional registration and employment in the nursing field, Kheuhami explained.

The students sought clarification from the university administration regarding the recognition status of their course.

Unfortunately, students reported that university officials allegedly provided unsatisfactory responses to their legitimate inquiries.

Rather than engaging in constructive dialogue, the university administration allegedly resorted to coercive tactics, lodging an FIR against 17 Kashmiri students involved in the protest.

These students were detained by local authorities, initially held at a police station and subsequently transferred to the Sub Jail in Chittorgarh, where they remained for nearly two days before their release.

Additionally, 33 Kashmiri students faced suspension from the university, exacerbating the distress and anxiety for those affected and their families.

The JKSA is urging immediate action to revoke the FIRs against the students, retract the university's suspension orders, and initiate an independent inquiry into allegations of harassment, intimidation, and assault experienced by the students.

If the program is indeed missing statutory approvals, the degrees obtained by these students may be invalid for professional registration, jeopardizing nearly four years of academic effort, financial investment, and future career opportunities, Kheuhami added.

The students have only requested that the university either obtain the necessary statutory approvals promptly or facilitate their transfer to a duly recognized nursing institution to continue their education without compromising their academic and professional futures, Kheuhami stated.

Many of the affected students come from middle-class and economically disadvantaged families that depend on scholarships and financial assistance to pursue professional education beyond Jammu and Kashmir.

This program, linked to the Army's Sadbhavana initiative, was designed to engage, empower, and support Kashmiri youth through education.

However, the association claims that the lodging of FIRs and subsequent detentions of students have instead fostered distress and alienation among them and their families.

The JKSA reassured protesting parents that it will persist in advocating for the students' academic futures with relevant authorities, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Rajasthan government, until justice is achieved and their academic futures are secured.