DU Beat in conversation with Sohan Yadav, contesting for the post of Vice President for Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) 2025, from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), as a part of the AISA-SFI panel. This interview was originally taken in Hindi and has been translated into English.
S: What, according to you, is the biggest challenge that university students face, and how would you work on improving it?
S: There are three to four very common but major issues. Lack of Hostels and privacy are huge issues. Quality food is not available in most colleges, and colleges where quality food is available offer it at such a high price point that it is not affordable for many. At SFI, we believe that just like we succeeded in curbing the issue of fee hikes at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), as a part of DUSU, we will do the same at Delhi University. We will provide metro passes to students, just as we have done at Hyderabad University. Additionally, we want there to be quality and affordable food at all colleges. Another huge issue is the degrading state of academics in the university. Our demands also include making the SEC and VAC papers completely additional and optional to allow students to focus on their main areas of interest.
S: . What are some key points within your election manifesto?
S: Right. So our first point is the democratisation of the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in all colleges, which is not the case in many colleges. The second point is the issue of hostels. Our third pointer is the issue of fee hikes. Our fifth pointer is about ensuring the functioning of a quality and affordable canteen in every college, and our sixth is the demand for concessional metro passes for students. Lastly, our seventh point is to increase student safety in and around campus spaces – we observe students being murdered and committing suicides around us, and we would like to take steps to curb this. Another demand that is closely tied to this is the creation of quality medical facilities within colleges. In many colleges, while a medical room exists, psychiatrists, nurses, doctors and other professionals are not present in those rooms. Especially in today’s times, where so many students are suffering from mental health issues, it is necessary to ensure the presence of mental health professionals within the medical room of each college.
S: With increasing financial pressure on students, what steps would you advocate for better affordability?
S: See, there is only one solution to this. Firstly, the fee hikes that we face have already separated the oppressed classes and alienated them. When I used to study at Zakir Hussain College, every year, I used to fill the fees for at least six students by sourcing and collecting funds through my organisation. I myself have worked part-time jobs to fill the fees for two semesters after the fee hikes. So I fully understand the ripple effect of issues created after the fee hikes. So our main demand is putting a complete stop to fee hikes while simultaneously creating new policies and systems of support to help students from oppressed backgrounds who may not be able to pay their fees due to multiple reasons.
S: With increasing financial pressure on students, what steps would you advocate for better affordability?
S: Basic needs and amenities need to be targeted first. For instance, if a student is able to get affordable hostels and accommodation, costs will be reduced there; if they get concessional metro passes, travel costs will also be reduced; if they can get affordable food within their canteens, costs will also be reduced for food. So our continuous attempt after coming into DUSU will be the creation of a university where students get affordable travel, affordable food, affordable accommodation and affordable education to decrease financial burdens on students. It is our dream to create such a university space, just as we have done in JNU over the years.
S: What specific, achievable changes can you realistically deliver within your one-year term if elected, and how will you show that progress to students?
S: Right, so firstly, one of our immediate steps is to curb a very common issue, which is the lack of clean and functioning water coolers in colleges. This issue has not been settled until now, since coolers in many colleges stop working after every two months. We will also work towards maintaining quality and affordable food in every college canteen. Lastly, South Campus students have been facing this issue for a long time. The administration does not sit in the South Campus building, and as a result, they have to come to North Campus for many administrative issues. We will ensure that an administrative body also sits in the South Campus building, and lastly, we strongly believe that “keval chunaavi vaasi na chalein” (only vote-based actions should not prevail), so the special U buses should run even after the elections, and I will ensure that that happens.
Read Also: Interview with Anjali | AISA Candidate | DUSU Elections 2025
Image Credits: DU Beat
Interview by Sakshi Singh
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