Finger on the pulse

Manika Ahuja

High-voltage drama, tight security, verbal altercations and full-on campaigning—if you drop by the Panjab University (PU) campus, during the coming week, these are some of the things you are most likely to witness. Why is that, you’d ask. Well, the Panjab University students’ elections are round the corner (read September 7). Explains the commotion, eh?

But, hang on. When it comes to winning the major chunk of votes, is shouting on the top of lungs the only way to attract attention? Not really, it seems, for the student leaders beg to differ. These young activists might have different interpretations of their brush with politics- while some might view it as a launch pad to make a foray into mainstream politics, others might see student polls as a healthy platform to make authorities heed collective demands of the student community. But there is one thing all of them swear by—the power of party manifesto (agenda) to make or break their winning image!

One look at the agendas of some prominent student parties, and interestingly, some common demands surface—with women safety, environmental concerns and transparent hostel allocations, topping the list! Let’s hear it from the horses’ mouth...

Safe and sound

Presidential candidate for PUSU (Panjab University Students’ Union), Nirjog Singh Mann, sheds light on some of the main agendas his party seeks to achieve, “Women safety and security figures on top of our list. Females on the campus, be outsiders or PU students, should feel completely safe and secure on the premises. Also, we aim to bat for environmental issues by encouraging student participation in tree plantation drives etc. We have also been rooting for improving hostel facilities.”

Practical demands

A senior student leader from the newly-formed National Students’ Union of India Student Front (NSUI-SF), (newly-formed faction of NSUI), Hashan Sidhu, informs that way before the student polls’ hullabaloo commenced, “Our party members have been raising demands for construction of cemented parking behind Arts Block 1-5 of the University, for a lot of students have complained about the nuisance of flying mud.”

Sidhu suggests that one of the biggest USPs of the students’ union is the “the practicality of our demands. Besides, we have earnestly submitted numerous memorandums to university authorities highlighting genuine concerns of the students.” Apart from working for the initiation of online hostel allotment facility, NSUI-SF aims to kick-start placement cells for ready employment of students.

Empowering ‘her’

Hoping to match pace with established parties, a new outfit—Panjab University Helping Hands (PUHH), has mushroomed this year. General Secretary of PUHH, Prabhjot Kaur Virdi, speaks for the entire team, when she avers, “We are emphasising women empowerment by pushing for proper check on eve-teasing on the campus. The PUHH has also been raising the issue of lack of transparency in hostel allotment.”

Hostel reforms

Chandigarh Organising Secretary for Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarathi Parishad (ABVP), Sourabh Kapoor, claims that the party has been working to initiate pertinent reforms in University hostels. “Our agenda is to usher-in proper hostel maintenance. Shortage of rooms is a major issue which needs to be addressed, for which, we have been pressing the authorities to construct more hostels. Water problem in hostel buildings is another pertinent issue that we will take up with great seriousness. Goes without saying, that transparency in hostel allocation is an ideal state that we intend to achieve,” observes Kapoor.

Well, may the best man/ woman win!