PU polls: MPs, MLAs from outside should not decide fate of students, says SFS presidential candidate

Here’s a look at Kumar’s promises, the solutions he aims to provide and his poll pitch.

Candidate: Prateek Kumar

Party: Students For Society (SFS)

Qualification: Fourth year of mechanical engineering

About him: Kumar was born in Charkhi Dadri district of Haryana but was raised in Rajasthan. He took admission to the university’s Institute of Engineering and Technology and came to Chandigarh four years ago.

What ails PU: “Educational courses have become out of bounds for middle-class students due to the high fees. Initially, these courses used to be out of pocket for the lower-middle class, but every year, the way they are hiking the fee structure for all the courses, it has become difficult for a student middle-class student,” he said, adding that making self-financed courses into regular courses is what he is looking forward to.

Solutions: Prateek said he would ensure the authorities have a fixed fee structure that does not increase yearly. “Education should not be made out of access. Through proper coordination with the authorities, I will ensure a fixed fee structure in place,” Prateek said.

Poll pitch: Prateek stated, “MPs and MLAs from outside should not be deciding the fate of university students.”

“I would say this student election should have student participation entirely. Bahar ke MPs, MLAs decide na karen…They pitch in dummy candidates who are not concerned with students’ issues… It is a student-based election, and these outsiders should be deciding the fate of the university students,” he said.

Prateek added that some political parties are getting their MPs and MLAs “who are coming with their security and VIP culture is being promoted (in the campus)”.

I’m not a dummy candidate, says NSUI contender

Name: Jatinder Singh

Party: National Students’ Union of India (student wing of the Congress)

Qualification: Research scholar

About him: Jatinder is from Punjab. He was born and raised in Bathinda but settled in Chandigarh for ten years. He says he enjoys listening to podcasts and interviews and works for his new startup.

What ails PU: Jatinder said fake promises by other parties and no proper platform to help students are what ails the university.

Solutions: Jatinder looked forward to getting a system of having menstrual leave for girls. He also aimed to introduce a unique chance for final-year students with a fee of just Rs 2,500 and create a PUCSC website with immediate effect. He said he would ensure that offering research scholars a stipend would be made easier.

Poll pitch: “I am not a dummy candidate. I’ve pursued BTech, a Masters and now PhD from this university. I’ve been with different student groups for years. I’m here with a plan and to stand for justice. I’m here to take student’s voices upfront,” Jatinder said.