The article is entirely based on the results of the poll. Goes with what the majority thinks.
In a recent poll on the question, ‘Do you think that campus politics is good?’ conducted by the UoH Dispatch online blog, 65 per cent of the student polled that there was a need to continue with the present system of elections on campus, only 25 per cent of them felt that the elections where unnecessary whereas 10 per cent of them did not have an opinion.
The question is slightly redundant due to the pronouncements of the Supreme Court as well as the Lyngdoh Committee report on Guidelines on Students’ Union Elections in Colleges/Universities constituted by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
As per the Direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, the poll would have been apt if the questions were, “Are elections on campus being conducted in a fair manner?”; “Are the elections helping the university in any manner?” or “Do the elected representatives functioning in an efficient manner?”
The very reason why the elections are conducted is to inculcate a sense of duty in the students or would be voters, future constituents of the nation and to help them understand the working of the democratic process. The basic premise of a Democracy is that its constituents/voters, who are bestowed with the right to elect their representatives, know the importance of this right and value it for the change it can bring in as well as script their destiny.
In this day when efficient governance is but a myth which is seen as something desirable, how do we expect people to believe in proper working of a democracy? How do we ensure that the lost confidence in their ability to bring about a change in the kind of politics of a nation can be restored? The simple answer is student politics.
A political science class only helps up to a point. But to see, feel and enjoy the change which can be brought about in the working of a university, a cleaner hostel or better food is truly inspiring which gives a better hope for the nation as a whole.
What can be done and should be done to ensure that the university politics does not interrupt the academic schedule of the university has been clearly detailed in the Report prepared by Mr. Lyngdoh. According to the report:
• Elections be held on a yearly basis and between six-to-eight weeks from the date of commencement of the academic session.
• Undergraduate students should be between the ages of 17 and 22 to contest elections. This age range can be appropriately relaxed in the case of professional Colleges. For Postgraduate Students age limit would be 24 to 25 years. For research students maximum age is 28 years.
• The candidate should have attained the minimum percentage of attendance as prescribed by the University.
• The candidate shall not have a previous criminal record or been subject to any disciplinary action by the University authorities.
• The maximum permitted expenditure per candidate shall be Rs. 5000.
All the recommendations were aimed at giving the first priority to academic activities as the Committee was clear that the academic institutions are meant for educational activities, not for politics.
