Sambalpur: Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, has withdrawn its mandatory uniform policy for undergraduate students following protests by second-year students over the issue and other long-pending demands.
The decision was approved by the university’s Academic Council on Friday, nearly a year after the compulsory dress code was introduced.
The Academic Council, in a meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dipak Kumar Sahoo, approved a proposal to make the prescribed uniform optional for students. The decision will be formally implemented after an official notification is issued by the university.
With the revised policy, students will no longer be required to wear the designated uniform. However, they will have to follow a formal dress code and maintain discipline and decorum on the campus.
Confirming the development, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sahoo said the uniform has been made optional for all students, including first-year students. He added that students are expected to dress appropriately and uphold the standards of the institute.
The decision comes days after second-year students staged a protest on the campus demanding the withdrawal of the compulsory uniform rule and raising several hostel-related concerns. The agitation was suspended after the students held discussions with the Vice-Chancellor, who assured them that their demands would be placed before the Academic Council.
VSSUT had introduced the mandatory uniform policy in August last year, stating that it was aimed at ensuring student safety, security, and equality among students. The move, however, faced opposition from a section of students who expressed concerns over the practicality and comfort of the prescribed attire.
Students had argued that the blue, full-sleeve polyester uniform was unsuitable for Sambalpur’s humid weather conditions. They also pointed out that the dress code posed difficulties for students involved in fieldwork and laboratory-based courses, where greater flexibility in clothing was required.
