The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on Thursday said the university is “extremely sensitive” to the need of its members to help Covid-19 affected people on the campus and it welcomes all suggestions for improving the existing facilities offered by the administration, but it “strongly” condemns the “canard” spread against the university by some faculty members, according to the JNU.

The university issued the statement on Thursday, five days after the Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers’ Association (JNUTA) condemned the university for its “non-cooperative attitude” in responding to the association’s suggestions regarding opening Covid 19  management facilities on the campus. The JNUTA had said the association had suggested the administration for running the Covid management facilities as per the guidelines issued by the Delhi government and use the guest houses on the campus for isolating the Covid 19 infected persons on the campus. But no measures were taken in this regard.

In response to the allegations of the teachers’ body the JNU administration said in an official statement: “JNU administration is extremely sensitive to the needs of its members in these difficult times. Any constructive suggestion that can augment the measures already put in place to facilitate and help Covid 19 affected people in the campus is most welcome. However, we strongly condemn the canard and falsehood spread against JNU Administration by a few faculty members.”

According to the university the authorities had reached out to the members of the campus who needed hospitalization, treatment or isolation facilities well before the worsening of the Covid 19 pandemic.  

A Covid 19 Response Team (CRT) which works round the clock was mobilised with the support of young teachers, NCC and NSS volunteers, and a few faculty who have basic medical training to assist and advise the Covid 19 infected people.

A second vaccination camp started on April 29 where a large number of residents have registered and have come forward for vaccination, the university said.

Also read: Teachers’ body condemns JNU for lack of Covid management facilities on campus