New Delhi: It might be more of a symbolic
affair now, but students of Jawaharlal Nehru University are
keen on making as much out of this much-awaited union election
that restores the democratic process in the varsity after four
years of a dry run.
The politically-active university goes to polls on March
1 to elect its first union in four years and despite the fact
that the new union will have a mandate for a mere six months,
both the student fraternity and the administration is positive
about the development.
Students hope that many of their issues that were lying
ignored and had lost urgency due to an absence of
representation will now be revived.
"You may call it a symbolic affair, but we are expecting
a huge turnout as most of the students in the campus today
have never witnessed polling before," says Prabodhan Arvind,
chairperson of JNU Election Committee, who is busy compiling
the voters list, days before the election process starts.
The filing of nomination is scheduled for February 21,
and following withdrawals and verification, the final list of
candidates will be displayed on February 22.
The most interesting aspect of the pre-poll period -- the
keenly fought presidential debate -- will be held on the night
of February 28, after which the campaigners will go quiet
before the March 1 polling.
Though the Supreme Court lifted in December last year its
stay on elections in JNU, imposed in 2008 citing violations
of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, the restoration
process was delayed due to technical reasons and objections
raised by some quarters.
However, after much debate, discussion, a hunger strike
and a final opinion by a legal counsel, a final agreement was
reached over holding elections this semester.
"Democracy is always welcome. Though there were glitches
but we too are happy the university will have a representative
body of students that will help restore this bridge of
communication between the varsity administration and the
students," said Prof Abdul Nafey, Dean of Students Welfare.
Students say that a number of issues like an increasing
shortage of hostels, scholarships that need to be increased
and other infrastructural issues will now be revived.
"Students have witnessed a delay in disbursal of their
scholarships and very slow movement on other issues like
increasing hostel capacities and improving gender sensitivity.
The coming back of a union will mean these issues are taken
up," said SFI Delhi state president Roshan Kishore.
PTI
