Osama Khursheed- a Student Leader from Patna University in a conversation with Legal Angles Patna intern Aayushmaan Awasthi upon the issues of fee hike and other grievances of students from Bihar during the pandemic.
-Legal Angles Patna
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
Today we have on board Mr. Osama Khurasheed pursuing a degree in journalism and mass communication from Patna College, Patna University. Osama has been involved in student activism in his college for the past few years. Recently, he filed a petition before the high court of Patna for the grievance redressal of the students of Patna
University
So, Mr. Osama can you please tell our readers something about yourself.
Osama:
I am third year student of Mass. Comm. in the University of Patna. As you know I have been involved in student activism for the past three years in my college. I am also the co-creator of Work studio co-working, a start-up. I have also invited as a delegate at Global Entrepreneurship Summit Hyderabad, organised by the US govt./ Niti Aayog. In addition to that I am also a community leader at Google Powered Start- up weekend.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
Ok Osama coming straight to the facts, can you please tell our readers what was the whole motive regarding filing a petition in the High Court of Patna?
Osama:
We wanted the administration of the Patna University to give us relaxations in the fee structure for the upcoming semester. But they didn’t address our problems, so we have to move to the court for the redressal of our grievances.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
Didn’t you and your batch mates tried to negotiate with the administration?
Osama:
We tried very hard, but they were in no mood to listen to our problems. Instead they increased the initial fee structure for the upcoming new batches. We even sent a letter to the governor regarding the same In this time of crisis we wanted the University to stand with us but instead they choose to make wholesome of money.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
What is the financial status of the students that come to study in Patna University?
Osama:
Bihar is one of the poorest states in India. The students who come to attain education from the Patna University mostly belong to just above Poverty line. We even conducted a survey regarding the same and the figures are not surprising.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
Can you please tell our readers something about the survey conducted by you?
Osama:
Sure. Approx 37.7% respondent of the survey who are the students of the Patna University is having family income of less than 25,000 which indicates that 37.7% lies in the BPL category of Bihar. 80.1% of the respondent respond that there is volatility in their family income during the lockdown which shows the negative impact in their family income. So the University should revoke the current session fee for the BPL category student and should give discount to the rest students because approx. 80.1% respondent’s family income is badly affected by the lockdown.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
Can you please tell our readers regarding the mode of evaluation carried out by your University in the previous semester?
Osama:
We requested the administration to promote the 1st and 2nd years without any examination, for the final year we requested the administration for a pro rata basis i.e. promoting students on the basis of their previous performance. We even submitted a petition signed by more than 3100 students regarding the same.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
So, what’s the situation now, are your classes being conducted online?
Osama:
According to our survey the university should either provide mobile data app for e-learning or make website of the university mobile friendly for ease access of student as approx 95.3% respondents have smartphones and only 15.3% have laptop or desktop facility & 3% having nothing.
Aayushmaan Awasthi:
So, now we have come to the end of our interview. It was nice talking to you Mr. Osama. We would like to tell you that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Thank you joining us.
Osama:
My pleasure. Thank you for listening to my problems,