Sri Vijaya Puram | February 12, 2026
The Andaman & Nicobar State Committee of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has expressed support and solidarity with the ongoing strike by college students across the islands, according to a press release issued by the organisation.
As per the release, the strike is being jointly conducted by three student organisations — the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
The students are demanding a review of the Government of India’s decision to bring all seven existing colleges in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under a newly established Deemed University. The move was notified through Gazette Notification No. 9-1/2023-U 3(A) dated March 8, 2024, issued by the Ministry of Education. At present, the colleges in the islands are affiliated with Pondicherry University.
In its statement, CITU alleged that the decision to affiliate the colleges with the Deemed University — identified as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Higher Learning — was taken unilaterally and without consultation with student organisations, teachers’ bodies, employees’ associations, political parties, or elected representatives in local bodies such as the Zilla Parishad.
The trade union body further claimed that bringing the colleges under the Deemed University, which it stated is yet to have its own campus, faculty, and infrastructure, could result in increased fees, lack of facilities, and potential impact on academic standards. It also expressed concern over the perceived value of degrees issued by the new institution in the job market, both within India and abroad.
CITU, in the release, described the decision as part of what it termed the Central Government’s policy of privatising and commercialising higher education. The organisation criticised what it called the lack of meaningful dialogue between the authorities and the protesting students.
Reiterating its position, CITU stated that it stands in solidarity with the students’ agitation against the disaffiliation of the island colleges from Pondicherry University.
