The students’ senate of IIT Kharagpur has demanded that the students who are facing resource constraints and not being able to attend online classes be called back to the campus at the earliest.

The authorities have said they are working on a schedule for the “speedy return” of such students to the campus.

Classes at the premier tech institute are being held on digital platforms as a precaution against Covid-19.

Several representatives of the senate, which represents all students on the campus, told the authorities during a meeting on July 5 that scores of students were facing financial constraints because of Covid-induced curbs on economic activities.

Many are also facing unstable connectivity while attending classes from home.

An office-bearer of the outgoing students’ senate told The Telegraph that such students were eager to return to the campus so they could use the institute’s connectivity and attend classes.

“Many are facing acute financial distress because of slump in business or salary cuts. Attending online classes and writing exams throughout the semester involve a substantial cost. Many students are finding it difficult to bear the cost,” he said.

Dhrubajyoti Sen, the dean of students affairs at the IIT, wrote to the students after the July 5 meeting: “For students who are facing constraints of resources, the data for which was collected in March… plans are being made for their speedy return to the campus, provided that all criteria regarding vaccination are satisfactorily met as per the protocol dictated by the administrative, medical and security authorities.”

Sen told The Telegraph: “We will take a decision on the recall following discussions with competent authorities.”

At the IITs and the NITs, students whose parents earn less than Rs 1 lakh per year are allowed full waiver of the tuition fee. If the family income is between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, two-thirds of the fee is waived.

“These underprivileged students must be called back to the campus first. Buying a laptop or a desktop is a big ask for them. Add to that the internet expenses. They are in a very difficult situation,” a senate member said.

Teachers pointed out that students were also being inconvenienced in several parts of India because of the local administration's decision to shut down the internet ostensibly to quell social unrest.

An IIT official said they had decided to call students back to the campus from March this year. But the plan had to be shelved following a renewed surge in Covid cases.