- Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Shubham Ghosh
THE student community has been hit hard by the second wave of coronavirus pandemic in India – academically, emotionally and personally. For many, losing the near ones has been a heart-breaking experience in key formative years of their careers. Aiming to allay their pain, the Delhi University (DU) has decided to fully waive fees for those students who have lost either one or both of their parents in the pandemic, officials reported on Friday, June 4. The university authorities have already written to the affiliated colleges to conduct a survey of such students and prepare a list.
Balaram Pani, Dean of Colleges, told the Press Trust of India: “The Delhi University has written to its colleges to conduct a survey of students who have lost their parents due to coronavirus. We have sought a report in the matter by Monday.” The ill-fated students will not be even charged examination fees.
“At the varsity level, we know about the staffers whose wards are studying here and they would be given a fee waiver. At the college level, the college governing bodies will have to implement it. They will have to ask for certain documents which would prove it,” an official said on the condition of anonymity.
Officials said there are three types of colleges under DU – those that are maintained by trusts; those that are run by the university and a third group which is fully or partially funded by the government of Delhi. A principal of one of the colleges funded by the Delhi government welcomed the move to back the students and said: “Once the decision is finalised by the varsity, we will put it forth our governing body and get it approved. Since ours is a college funded by the Delhi government and it is a financial matter, we will need to get it approved by the governing body.”
Only university component to be waived off?
Another principal of the university-affiliated college said on the condition of unanimity that when the decision of waiving fee is taken, only the university component of the fees can be waived off. He said there are two components of the fees – the college component and the university component. According to him, the college component can only be done without by the respective college while the university component part is quite small.
Some colleges have already started the process, the PTI report added. Rajesh Giri, the principal of New Delhi-based Rajdhani College, said they have already identified 30 students who have lost either one or both their parents in the second wave that has left hundreds of thousands dead in India. “Our students have also created a Google form for students and the fee waiver will also be applicable for those who will seek admission in the new academic session. They will have to furnish a death certificate of their parents. The college had given a fee concession of Rs 2,010 to all its students during the first wave,” he said.
The authorities at Aryabhatta College, another institute under DU, also welcomed the move and has formed a Students Fee Concession and Scholarship Committee which will identify the students in distress. Principal Manoj Sinha said an NGO in Mumbai has come forward to sponsor education of five women students of his college.
