Get! Set! Go!..this is the time to show. Must be guessing what is itIJ It is for the upcoming student union elections buzzing in and around Ranchi University (RU) campus nowadays.
After a span of 71 months, the election is supposed to raise a toast from September where the students foresee this process a reformation in their academic lives. So are the young participatory unions who frequently knock the varsity administration doors for the sake of students.
Though, on August 7, RU announced date for student union elections which is to be held in two rounds- direct elections in affiliated colleges on September 28 and indirect elections at University level on October 9, a final green signal is yet to be received by the university’s syndicate for this electoral process. The announcement states that the election process will begin on September 6 with finalization of voters’ list. September 13 will be the last date for filing nominations for the elections.
Comparing this early wake up call for the university cum college elections with the one held by Delhi University and Banaras Hindu University, a final year post graduate student of Archaeology and Museology, Jyoti Kumari said, “There are chances of improving the present deteriorating work culture through student unions as they compel the administration to do what they have been ignoring for benefit of the students.”
As many as 10 student unions, including Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), Jharkhand Chatra Sangh (JCS) and National Student’s Union of India (NSUI) are gearing up to file nominations for elections.
“We are expecting a justified platform to convey our problems through elected representatives because most of the leaders preparing to fight the elections are dynamic and constantly putting hard efforts to make the university authorities hear our woes,” Mithilesh Kumar, a first year Bachelor of Science student in Mathematics said. Ashutosh Prasad from Master of Arts (MA) in Rural Development also supported Kumar’s view.
College and University students here are often shocked with delayed examinations, faculty crunch, rare-to-have library facilities followed with non-technical laboratory conduct, drinking and washroom hassles.“Our State capital has yet not broadened social thoughts for encouraging girls in higher education. I will vote because the student unions seem to fight for ‘Haq ki Awaaz’ (Right to speech),” said Anita Toppo, a student of MA in Anthropology.
Each elected student union from the affiliated and constituent colleges with the overall student votes will be electing five university representatives.While sharing future leadership roles in the cradle, NSUI and AJSU General Secretaries Kumar Raja and Harish Kumar respectively assured to dedicate themselves for the students abiding by democratic policies of University Grants Commission’s lyngdoh Committee. Known as ‘Screaming leader’ Prasanna, the ABVP General Secretary promised to fight for student’s justice in every possible ways.
However, where most of the students are interested in getting results of these elections, if it takes place, there are some who do not bother to know about this political ambience.Aloka Purty, a first year student of MA English said, “Are you jokingIJ Can student unions ever work with the motive of student’s welfareIJ A hunger for political success is the main objective of any election.”“We do not want to waste our precious voting powers in such name sake student elections as we hardly know any of the so-called leaders,” added Poonam and Sushma of MA Political Science first year.