There is one group of people that is neither aren't affected by climate change or the economic slowdown — internet trolls. They target anyone and anything, and it's highly unlikely for any internet user to not fall prey for them. But the ABVP in Delhi University is all set to tackle them or so, their DUSU election manifesto suggests.
The RSS's student political organisation is demanding that the Delhi University administration set up a helpline for women students who are abused on social media websites. The manifesto that apparently concentrates on 5Ps, Parisar (campus), Pathyakram (course), Pravesh (admission), Pariksha (examination) and Parinam (Result), has a page that talks only about the issues that women face in the university and the ways in which they plan to resolve it. They also aim to reach out to at least 20,000 women.
"We believe in the strengthening of education facilities, safety and security of women at the college and university campus," reads the manifesto. The ABVP wants to organise more self-defence classes, install more CCTV cameras and restrict the entry of outsiders in the campus. They also want police booths to be net up near every hostel and college. Another promise in the manifesto is a safety mobile app for women students.
So, what do the women students of the university think about it? We asked a few female students. On Monday, the students of Miranda House created a stir — as the ABVP candidates were sent back from the college as all the students shouted 'ABVP Go Back.' "Even last year, the ABVP had the same manifesto. But the previous union managed to do nothing for the women. They'll go on blatantly about women's safety, but this is the same group that will send rape threats online and make us feel unsafe. Their newest weapon to win the election is by distributing kajals to students in PG accommodations," says a student.
Another Miranda House student Ahana Prakash too calls the manifesto farce. "We have had an incident, where a group of ABVP members including the previous DUSU President Shakti Singh terrorised the students during our cultural fest. This is the same group who makes us unsafe by eve-teasing women. If they had this agenda, why didn't they implement it when they were ruling the union?" she asks. Ahana also said that she had to face an ABVP-allied online troll after Monday's incident.
