The running around and communicating with unknown faces at Delhi University campus — especially during the chaotic admission rush — is tough on authorities but a platform of learning for volunteers working with the deans of student welfare.
From placements, filling forms, clarifying and answering queries during admissions, placements and fests, these volunteers are on the spot with doing their duty while handling course pressure.
Mohammad Bilal is the oldest among the volunteers working around the Faculty of Arts campus and Conference Centre - the largest admission information centres of the university.
He has been associated with the university for past four years, is a Zakir Hussain College pass-out and is currently in the final year of his llB.
Bilal feels volunteering has given him hand-on experience of professional fieldwork and helped him brush up many other skills without hampering studies.
"I had learnt about volunteering from a friend. Being very active in debating, I wanted to develop my personality. I applied with my CV, went through a round of interviews and finally joined officials who work in the most stressful environment during admissions," he recollects.
"I learnt counselling, how to handle work pressure, dealt with people through all kinds of protests. There can be nothing better in a student's life than earning during college and getting trained simultaneously," Bilal says.
There are 20 volunteers in the university at present and every year, with students passing out, there is fresh intake. Deputy dean of students' welfare Gurpreet Kuteja said the work is divided among the students so their studies don't get affected.
They are mostly called at the peak moments - during admissions, at annual cultural fest Anterdhani and during placements season.
"This is the kind of internship they can do while studying. Communication skills, personality development and work under stressful conditions are a training that is required by students of all disciplines. We pay them on a daily basis so they are encouraged and don't feel they are being exploited," Kuteja added.