By TwoCircles.net News Desk,
New Delhi: All India Students’ Association (AISA) has conducted a mass signature campaign to press the authorities of Jamia Millia Islamia to build more students’ hostels and to conduct students’ union elections. Over 2000 students from across faculties and departments of the university signed the memorandum addressed to the Vice Chancellor.
In the memorandum, the students have asked for increase in the number of hostels in order to meet the needs of the student community. The lack of hostels have forced students to seek accommodation elsewhere – though the rents are exorbitant. The students also complained about the delay in bringing out hostel lists and sought the announcements of the lists immediately after admissions. The students argued that it was the University’s responsibility to create conditions conducive to the pursuit of academics, especially research.
The second key issue that the memorandum raised is the revival of Students’ Union elections at Jamia Millia. The university allows “elections of teachers’ association, karamchari and staff associations to be held regularly. The students are the only section of the University which lacks a representative body though the Lyngdoh Committee has called for elections to be held in all colleges and universities,” said Aslam Khan,Vice President of Delhi unit of AISA. Khan led the AISA team to Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung on 14th October and submitted the memorandum.
“The VC has assured us that he will look into all aspects related to the students’ union elections, and only then will decide about it. On students’ hostels the VC said that in the first phase he is giving more attention to girls’ hostels. He said the university has got a project of 200-seat hostel from the Delhi government,” Aslam Khan told TCN.