29 March,2015 01:58 AM IST | | Shreya Bhandary
Four months after mid-day reported the plight of six students at a chess tournament in Ahmedabad, Mumbai University organises felicitation function
Mumbai University
Four months after mid-day reported the plight of six students representing Mumbai Mumbai (MU) at an inter-university chess championship in Ahmedabad last year, the university authorities finally took cognizance of the incident. Authorities apologised to the students for unconfirmed railway tickets and poor accommodation, transport and food facilities.
The six students who went to Ahmedabad for the championship last year.
On Friday, a felicitation function was organised for all the students, including those who participated in other events such as football, squash, swimming throughout the year, along with their parents at a banquet hall in Marine Drive. Naresh Chandra, pro-vice chancellor, MU lambasted authorities from the sports department for putting the children, who represented the university on a national-level, through so much trouble.
In his speech, he congratulated the students for their achievements and questioned the authorities of the sports department for the poor arrangements. "I apologise that our students had to face a lot of hardships during the championship. I have asked the sports department to get its act together. Within a month, they will meet with the parents to take their views and implement them in the future," said Chandra.
While some parents thought the felicitation was useless as many of the students are still waiting to receive certificates for events held in 2013, others were hopeful that the university sports department will improve for the better. "Our children were not awarded any medals or certificates for their achievement at the felicitation, but we are glad that the university paid attention to the children's participation in sports activities. They even won accolades for the university," said Anil Singh, one of the parents.
Another mother, on condition of anonymity, said she was looking forward to the meeting between university officials and the parents. "We will put forth all the issues," said the mother.
