As the annual Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections inch closer, both the contending political outfits have released their ‘forward-looking and liberal’ manifestos, however featuring some innovative inclusions from previous years. In the elections to be held on 12th September, both the The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA) declared their intentions on the 5th of September.
What’s new in the ABVP Manifesto
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad said that if elected it would raise the demand for an insurance of Rs 5 lakh for every student, at a premium of Re 1 per day. The party while focussing on reforming the admission process said, “We would do our best to make admission more student-friendly and make sure that priorities of students are taken care of, especially in matters of colleges and courses…” It further raised another demand in the manifesto, that of securing concessions in admission to students from rural backgrounds. ABVP is also for ensuring a police booth near every hostel/college with female police staff. Lastly, the party’s focus will also be on “effective implementation” of the Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), arguing that the “the university authorities did not highlight the positives of the CBCS.
Highlights from the AISA Manifesto
The party manifesto delved with issues such as “reforming the DUSU election system by creating effective forums of debate like General Body Meetings and Presidential Debates.” The focus is also on constituting “an active grievance committee for students from marginalised sections to look into the matter of scholarship, admission, remedial classes and course material.” The AISA has also decided to form a racial discrimination committee if it gets elected, in every college.
Even though issues generic to all students such as more hostels, fare metro concession passes and better infrastructure always included in the manifestos, the introduction of sensitive-timely issues is a welcome sign.
