India

Student groups reach out to lockdown-hit people

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) With Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging the social welfare organisations to support the government amid the coronavirus epidemic, three student groups are setting their own examples.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), one of the first to react to the nationwide lockdown, announced 47 helpline numbers to help the needy. The helplines are available in all states and Union Territories.

In some cases, like UP, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has dedicated several helpline numbers to ensure that help reached the stranded, the earliest.

It’s providing free food packages to students and those who called on these numbers at their homes. Volunteers have been roped in to check increasing need of essentials on the ground.

The Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) too has joined the efforts to help the needy. DUSU president Akshit Dhaiya, accompanied by the vice-president and the joint secretary, is reaching out to help government bodies.

Similarly, the CollegeTips, a youth community active in six cities, has initiated a volunteer programme for students to work with the government in the fields of their interest.

An interested volunteer is asked to fill a form, which helps it identify and depute them as per their cities and interests.

“If someone wants to help in sanitisation work, food delivery or sit at home and scan information being circulated on social media, they can tell us,” said Vipin Tripathi, founder of the community.

The community forwards these form to the authorities to help them pick a volunteer.

The National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, has been raising the issue of students stranded due to the lockdown. It has also launched several helplines to help students and the needy.

According to the NSUI, it has helped several students struck in Jaipur to reach their hometowns. “In the times of crisis, the NSUI has always stood for students and the society. All our senior functionaries are striving to resolve issues faces by the people. We will all work towards the society’s benefit,” NSUI media in-charge Lokesh Chugh told IANS.

The NSUI has also written to the Delhi University seeking extension of the semester due to the time lost in lockdown.

NSUI National President Neeraj Kundan has sought exemption for students from paying room rent, at least for the lockdown period.

–IANS

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