After 38 years, students’ union polls to return to Telangana varsities

After nearly four decades, students’ union elections are likely to return to Telangana’s State universities from the next academic year. The Telangana Education Commission has proposed the move in its draft education policy, citing the need to streamline student representation and reduce campus unrest caused by multiple organisations. Elections were banned in 1988 following violent incidents.

Hyderabad: After a gap of 38 years, students’ union elections are likely to return to the State Universities in the next academic year.

The Telangana Education Commission, which recently conducted a comprehensive study on the current situation in the State’s universities, has decided to propose elections for students’ unions.

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This proposal will be included in the draft Telangana Education Policy, which is being formulated by an expert committee

While the Central Universities such as the University of Hyderabad (UoH), English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU) and Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) hold students’ union polls every academic year, the State universities have not held polls since 1988.

With incidents of violent attacks, including murder of former Nizam College student leader Devender Yadav in 1988, and academics disruption in Osmania University and Kakatiya University reported during campaigning, the then government in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh had banned elections to students’ unions.

During its study, the Commission found around 20 to 30 student organisations operating in Osmania University, Kakatiya University, Telangana University and other universities in the State.

This has caused problems for the university administration in dealing with a large number of organisations in the absence of an elected students’ body.

The Commission felt that mushrooming of the student organisations and frequent protests by one or other organisations over trivial issues are disrupting academic and campus atmosphere in the universities.

“We are proposing elections to the students’ union in the State universities as the varsity administration can deal with student-related issues with one elected body rather than numerous student organisations. When the elections are being held for teachers’ unions, why not for students’ unions? As students are major stakeholders, the elected students’ body should be involved in governance and decision-making bodies such as academic council,” Prof. PL Vishweswar Rao, member Telangana Education Commission, told ‘Telangana Today’.

In addition, the Commission is of the view that holding polls for students’ unions will play a key role in identifying and nurturing future political leadership within universities, fostering democratic values and leadership skills among students.

To tackle violence, if any, on the campuses, the TEC is pitching for deployment of police forces. Welcoming the proposal, the All-India Students’ Federation (AISF) said the organisation has long been demanding elections for students’ unions.

“Holding elections to the students’ body will help in creating new leaders from the universities. Presently, only people from political family backgrounds are benefiting than the commoners. The elections will provide a platform for students to develop leadership, organisation and communication skills besides creating awareness on the issues,” said Satya Nelli, OU political science research scholar and secretary AISF OU.