Jadavpur University students want an app to report abuse on campus. Here's why

The recently elected AFSU will organise a march on March 5 prior to a meeting with the authorities about the implementation of an Abuse Locating App and Awareness Programme or ALAAP
The Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) will organise a march on March 5 prior to a meeting (Pic:AFSU)
The Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) will organise a march on March 5 prior to a meeting (Pic:AFSU)

The students of Jadavpur University are set to push for the introduction of an app that registers complaints of discrimination and abuse on campus and spreads awareness as well. The Arts Faculty Students' Union (AFSU) will organise a march on March 5 prior to a meeting with the authorities about the implementation of an Abuse Locating App and Awareness Programme or ALAAP.

Former AFSU general secretary Debraj Debnath said that this proposal was introduced along with a blueprint in their election manifesto. "The students already know a little about ALAAP. Earlier, we demanded the launch of the mobile application whereby the victim of sexual harassment, verbal abuse, physical or mental torture in any place on the campus could report the crime. It would also keep their name and all other personal information confidential. A committee should be set up so that the complaint can reach to the concerned authorities immediately through the app and they can take appropriate action on the basis of that complaint," he said.

AFSU Chairperson Teerna Bhattacharya said that this is an initiative taken by AFSU and comes at a time when even though gender insensitivity is increasing day by day women are somehow treated as materials. "Derogatory comments and behaviour towards us is a burning problem. We must fight, fight prudently, fight sensitively against it," she said. "ALAAP has been proposed to help that very fight. We have a hope it will somehow help reduce gender insensitivity at least on our campus. And we will obviously try our best to make it a successful initiative to create an abuse-free and inclusive campus. As a woman I feel that if it works properly it will surely have a positive effect on the campus and society as a whole," added the recently elected Chairperson.

"Concerned authorities — by this we mean a special team which will be dealing with such cases — should keep track of updates of the cases. They should also communicate with the survivor regarding the legalities and engage in the sensitisation process," said AFSU General Secretary, Shubhayan Acharya Mazumdar. 

The students also want seminars and workshops to be conducted every three months on issues like gender equality and Dalit rights. "The university must immediately form a GSCASH as well which should include gender sensitised elected representatives. Moreover, every department should introduce compulsory courses on Dalit rights and nature of caste discrimination, gender equality and mental health. There should be appropriate arrangements to take care of the mental health of surviors as well," said Atendriya Dana, a student of Masters in International Relations and also a Class Representative.

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