Doda, Aug 28: A nine-day-long indefinite hunger strike demanding action on the long-pending Government Degree College (GDC) Thathri campus issue concluded on Friday after the administration accepted two key demands of the protesters — shifting the college from its present building to a safer and more suitable location and finalising land for the construction of a permanent campus.
The hunger strike, which began on August 20, evolved into one of the most significant public movements in recent years in Thathri, drawing support from students, civil society groups, traders, religious leaders, political representatives and local residents, The Chenab Times reported earlier. The agitation was initiated by social activist Manoj Kumar, who was joined by Raj Kumar on the first day. As the movement gathered momentum, Amir Zargar, Saqib Hussain, Irshad Ahmed and Nasir Alam also joined the fast, transforming it into a broader community-led campaign for educational infrastructure and the future of higher education in the region.
The issue has remained unresolved for nearly sixteen years. Although GDC Thathri was sanctioned in 2010 and classes commenced in 2011, the college has continued to function from a building that previously housed the Block Development Office. Students, parents and civil society groups have repeatedly argued that the institution lacks the infrastructure expected of a degree college and that successive generations have completed their education without the benefit of a permanent campus.
The movement gained wider attention on Day 7, when Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the hunger strikers. Karra said he had learned about the agitation while returning from Kishtwar and was informed by local party leaders about the prolonged delay in constructing the college building.
Expressing concern over the situation, Karra said it was distressing that young people in an era focused on development and educational advancement were compelled to sit on a hunger strike merely to demand basic educational infrastructure. He criticized what he described as administrative indifference towards the protesters and questioned how a project that had already received attention and approvals could remain stalled for so many years.
Karra also drew a contrast between official narratives promoting youth empowerment and self-reliance and the reality faced by students in Thathri. He remarked that while governments often speak of strengthening education and creating opportunities for young people, students in Thathri were still struggling for a college campus more than a decade after the institution became functional. Extending solidarity on behalf of himself and the Congress party, Karra assured the protesters that he would examine the relevant records and raise the matter at the highest levels, including in the Legislative Assembly if required.
A major breakthrough came during Day 8 and Day 9, when MLA Doda Mehraj Malik remained at the protest site for extended periods and actively engaged with both the protesters and the administration. Malik held discussions with Education Minister Sakina Itoo, Deputy Commissioner Doda Krishan Lal, and local officials in an effort to secure a resolution.
Addressing the gathering, Malik said the issue should be viewed beyond local rivalries and competing claims regarding the location of the college. He argued that debates and divisions over the past sixteen years had already cost two to three generations of students valuable educational opportunities. Emphasizing that the future of students must take precedence over politics, he stated that the primary concern was not where the college was ultimately built but that it should finally be built.
Malik also expressed concern over the condition of the existing college premises, describing it as unsuitable for higher education. He said students were being forced to study in cramped and deteriorating conditions that did not reflect the standards expected of a degree college. According to Malik, while the construction of a permanent campus may take time, authorities have an immediate responsibility to ensure that students are shifted to a safer and more suitable facility.
During discussions with officials, Malik pressed for the temporary relocation of the college to an available government building or another suitable facility until permanent infrastructure is developed. He argued that if the administration possesses the authority to make important executive decisions, it also has the authority to allocate an unused building for educational purposes.
The MLA further advocated long-term planning for the college, stressing that the future campus should be developed at a location capable of accommodating population growth, urban expansion and future educational needs. He urged authorities to consider road connectivity, water supply, electricity and space for future development while finalising the permanent site.
Malik also warned that if commitments made to the protesters were not honoured, he would not hesitate to join future protests himself. However, he expressed hope that the administration would implement the agreed measures without the need for further agitation.
Following Friday prayers on Day 9, negotiations reached a successful conclusion. The administration accepted the protesters’ principal demands and agreed to initiate the process of shifting the college from its current building to a safer and better location while also moving forward with the finalisation of land for the permanent campus.
With the assurances formally communicated, the hunger strike was called off. Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Doda visited the protest site and ended the fast by offering sweets to the hunger strikers in the presence of local residents, officials and supporters.
The movement was coordinated by a management committee comprising Raja Shakeel, Mansoor Ahmed, Mohd Altaf, Asgar Hussain Khanday, Anzer Ayoob, Mohd Ashraf, Imtiaz Ali, Mushtaq Ahmed, Umar Butt, Jaffar Hussain and several other community members who played a key role in organizing the agitation, mobilizing public support and facilitating communication with authorities.
While the hunger strike has ended, residents say the real test lies ahead. The success of the movement will ultimately be measured not by assurances alone but by the implementation of the commitments made. For many in Thathri, the conclusion of the nine-day protest marks the beginning of a new phase — one in which they expect visible progress toward a permanent and properly equipped campus for Government Degree College Thathri.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
