Congress-backed National Students' Union of India (NSUI) student's organisation on Tuesday released its manifesto for the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections scheduled for Friday. Apart from the separate women's manifesto, this is the second manifesto by the organisation which is expected to give its main rival Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) a tough fight. The organisation promises a "free-shuttle service", a scope for students to "earn while you learn", "student counselors", "charging stations in corridors of every college" and central information centre.
Nikhil Yadav, presidential candidate, said, "NSUI believes that the gap between the administration and students needs to be bridged. So, NSUI will hold student panchayats to discuss and resolve impending infrastructural, administrative and other issues. Students should be provided with a forum in their colleges to discuss their personal, emotional and career concerns. To bring this in effect, NSUI will ensure that every college in Delhi University will mandatorily have a professionally-trained student counselor."
National president of NSUI Amrita Dhawan said, "We have promised only that we can deliver unlike other organisations, which make tall promises during the polls and shows no performance." She alleged that the ABVP has not fulfilled the promises it had made in their previous manifesto despite being in power for three continuous years.
In its manifesto, NSUI focuses on North East students by promising to set up "North East alumni body," Besides, free health insurance for students, student representative in governing body, regular student panchayat, corruption-free Delhi University, original marks sheets to be made available and placement cells across the colleges are the wide range of issue, the NSUI is planning to work on.
Secretary candidate Vinita Dhaka said, "My family's economic condition isn't good, my father is a bus driver and my mother is a cleaner in the municipality department. Today's education has become unaffordable for people like me."
She said that she NSUI will facilitate students to do part time jobs for financially-challenged students. "Such jobs may include work like data entry, library/laboratory assistance, research assistance, etc. so that we can earn while we learn. Equal opportunity cell for SC/ST, OBC & differently-abled students also be established."
She further said, "As a girl, the safety and security of my sisters of Delhi University is of paramount importance to me. To make DU safe and secure for girls, NSUI shall get CCTV cameras installed in and around all colleges and also at all the vulnerable points in all the campuses of DU. NSUI shall get lady constables deployed outside colleges and at picketing points. NSUI will ensure that colleges have fully functional Committee against Sexual Harassment and a Women Development Centre."
Arjun Chaprana, the vice-president candidate and Mohit Garid, the joint secretary candidate, spoke on other aspects of the manifesto.