From having one-on-one interactions with students to ensure their mental well-being to providing payment support, internet data cards, and laptops to those in need, Delhi University colleges are doing their best to assist students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Universities have stepped up their efforts after an LSR student died by suicide allegedly due to financial constraints to continue her studies.
According to Lady Sri Ram University Director Suman Sharma, the university administration has announced a reduction in the fee for some courses, created a committee to provide laptops, and allowed some second-year students to reside in hostels.
“Given the fact that students are unable to use certain university facilities because they are off campus, the university has removed such charges from the fees this year. This has resulted in a substantial reduction in the fee. Furthermore, it is possible to pay the fee in installments ”, he said.
“Given the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, current sophomores with a new application and based on need will be allowed to stay in the shelter after the first incoming years commitments and the current third year, they are in the shelter, they have been fulfilled ”, he added.
Miranda House principal Bijaylaxmi Nanda said the university is working to provide Internet data packets to students on whom the burden has increased due to classes being moved online during the pandemic.
“We realized during the first month of closure only that online classes will not be enough and that the same attention will have to be paid to mental well-being. We took some action, but now we will increase our efforts and focus on one-to-one interactions, ”said Nanda. “We are exploring options to offer financial support to students not only in terms of fee waivers, but also to provide Internet data cards to assist in online classes,” he added.
The St Stephen’s College Staff Association has also approached the university principal, demanding the creation of a committee to reach out to students facing monetary problems.
“As we all know, the pandemic has caused great anguish in society. There is an increase in financial hardship and some of our students are facing real difficulties accessing classes online and paying fees, ”said Staff Association President Nandita Narain.
“Some of the faculty members have been receiving requests from students to help them both with paying fees and obtaining devices to attend classes online. We fear that there are many more students who have not yet communicated, “he added.
According to Simrit Kaur, director of the Shri Ram College of Commerce, the university has been receiving applications for scholarships and laptops since the closure.
“There are some students who had their own devices, but there were some who needed help with laptops, we have tried to provide each student with the kind of help they needed. We are also providing 24-hour counseling services to students so that if there is a problem, it can be addressed in a timely manner, ”said Kaur. Aishwarya, a Lady Sri Ram Women’s College (LSR) student and IAS applicant, was found hanging at her Shadnagar home in the Ranga Reddy district of Telangana on November 2.
In a suicide note allegedly written by her, the 19-year-old said she did not want to burden her parents with her educational expenses, police said.
The second-year Bachelor of Mathematics (Honors) student had returned to Telangana from Delhi in March, after university authorities asked those staying at the shelter to go home in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. . The universities of the University of Delhi have been closed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all teaching and learning activities have moved completely online since then.
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