Akash believes that continuity in leadership is key to maintaining the progress they’ve achieved while striving for further advancements in education equality, infrastructure improvements, and student welfare. Polling Date: Date: 25th October 2024 (Friday) Time: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM Join Akash Kumar and the ASA-BSF-DSU-SFI alliance in their ongoing journey towards a better and more inclusive University of Hyderabad. Make your vote count for a future that values justice, equality, and progress. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel and podcast platforms, and don't forget to subscribe for more interviews with key student leaders. Here are the key highlights from the ASA-BSF-DSU-SFI manifesto for the 2024-25 University of Hyderabad Students' Union Elections: 1. Social Justice and Inclusivity: Commitment to resisting privatization and graded autonomy in higher education, ensuring education remains a right for all, not a privilege for the few. Introduction of Deprivation Points during admissions for non-male students and candidates from marginalized regions. Advocacy for gender-neutral washrooms and transgender-friendly hostels. Continued fight for better access to social welfare scholarships for marginalized students, ensuring timely disbursements. 2. Academic and Research Support: No fee hikes in response to ongoing fund cuts, to prevent marginalized students from being excluded from education. Push for increased fellowships (Non-NET, UoH-SA) and timely disbursement. Fight against exclusionary academic policies, such as the minimum CGPA criteria for MA dissertations. Establishment of a University Press to support research publications by students and faculty. 3. Hostel and Mess Improvements: Construction of new hostels and improved sanitation and pest control in existing facilities. Advocacy for gender-neutral and married scholars' hostels. Implementation of mess transparency and resistance to privatization of mess facilities. Introduction of common kitchens and washing machine services in all hostels. 4. Infrastructure Enhancements: Expansion of Wi-Fi facilities in public places and hostels. Demand for better canteen tendering policies to ensure affordable food prices for students. Installation of tactile guiding paths for visually impaired students and ramps for better accessibility. 5. Sports and Cultural Development: Renovation of sports facilities including a mini-football ground, basketball courts, and a yoga center. Organization of progressive cultural festivals such as Sukoon, film festivals, and literary festivals celebrating diverse cultures and student talents. 6. Health and Hygiene: Regular health camps addressing specific medical concerns like PCOD/PCOS, thyroid issues, and mental health support. Weekly transgender health consultations at the university health center. Improved sanitation measures, including regular fumigation and institutional support for mental health awareness. 7. Environmental Sustainability: Establishment of a committee for environmental protection and waste management on campus. Demand for Environmental Impact Assessments before the construction of new infrastructure to maintain ecological balance. 8. Student Welfare and Campus Democracy: Advocacy for the right to free speech and protection of public spaces for critical discussions and debates. Resistance to communal organizations like RSS on campus and arbitrary disciplinary actions by the administration. Creation of a Minority Welfare Cell and advocacy for better representation of SC, ST, OBC, and EWS students. These highlights outline a clear focus on social justice, academic support, inclusivity, and infrastructure improvement, making the ASA-BSF-DSU-SFI alliance a strong advocate for a fair and progressive student community.

In this episode of Voices That Lead, we present C Sunil Kumar, the highly experienced General Secretary candidate contesting from the AISA-MSF-NSUI alliance in the 2024 University of Hyderabad Students’ Union Elections. Known for his deep understanding of the university’s challenges, Sunil Kumar offers a comprehensive and visionary approach to addressing these issues and driving meaningful change. Key Points from His Visionary Campaign: 1. Identifying Core Problems: C Sunil Kumar has thoroughly analyzed the pressing issues plaguing the university, including infrastructure gaps, student welfare concerns, lack of transparency, and inadequate academic resources. He believes that identifying these problems is the first step toward real, lasting change. 2. Proposed Solutions for Every Challenge: Sunil Kumar’s campaign is rooted in actionable solutions: Improved Infrastructure: He proposes to renovate hostels, academic buildings, and public spaces, ensuring that the university’s facilities meet the needs of every student. Student Welfare: Sunil plans to introduce policies for better healthcare access, expand the implementation of scholarships, and ensure the provision of essential resources like sanitary products and mental health support. Academic Support: From increasing access to digital resources to ensuring timely fellowship disbursals, Sunil Kumar aims to create a more robust academic environment. 3. Inclusivity and Equity: Standing with the AISA-MSF-NSUI alliance, which shares values similar to those of the National Congress, Sunil Kumar emphasizes inclusivity, justice, and student empowerment. His vision includes promoting equity for marginalized communities and ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has a voice in the university’s governance. 4. Transparency and Accountability: One of Sunil Kumar’s primary goals is to reintroduce transparent governance, making sure that the student union is accountable to the student body. He advocates for regular General Body Meetings and the creation of a platform where students can directly voice their concerns and provide feedback on union activities. 5. Vision for Change: C Sunil Kumar believes that the University of Hyderabad is on the cusp of transformation, and he stands ready to lead that change. His campaign is focused on building a university that: Puts students’ needs first. Improves transparency in decision-making processes. Ensures fair access to resources for every student. A Call for Change: Sunil Kumar’s experience and his well-thought-out vision make him a strong candidate for General Secretary. He understands that real change begins with action, and his leadership promises to deliver just that. If elected, Sunil Kumar will ensure that the student body’s concerns are not only heard but also addressed in a timely and effective manner. Polling Date: Date: 25th October 2024 (Friday) Time: 09:00 AM – 05:00 PM Make Your Voice Heard – Be part of this important movement for a better, more inclusive, and transparent university. Cast your vote for C Sunil Kumar, and join the campaign to bring about meaningful change at the University of Hyderabad. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel and podcast platforms, and don’t forget to subscribe for more interviews with key student leaders.

In this compelling episode of Voices That Lead, we sit down with Akash Bhati, the independent candidate contesting for President in the University of Hyderabad Students' Union Election 2024-25. Akash shares his clear vision for reshaping the university into a space of accountability, inclusivity, and holistic student empowerment. Through his leadership, Akash promises a new era of transparency, real student representation, and much-needed reforms across various sectors of student life. Manifesto Highlights: 1. Accountability and Student Representation: Akash Bhati’s campaign is rooted in a commitment to hold leadership accountable and prioritize the needs of students. He calls for the end of stagnant leadership, stressing the need for frequent University General Body Meetings (UGBM) to ensure students’ voices are consistently heard. He advocates for a student union that truly serves the student community, not just a few political interests. 2. Academic and Research Support: Akash plans to enhance academic resources by ensuring students have greater access to international and critical academic journals, alongside more career-enhancing opportunities. He aims to establish a Sevalal-Phule-Ambedkar Research Centre to support SC/ST/OBC students, ensuring educational equity. Additionally, he proposes launching a campus magazine for students to showcase both academic and non-academic talents, which would help boost career prospects and intellectual expression. 3. Sports and Fitness Initiatives: Akash is passionate about sports infrastructure and inclusivity. His manifesto promises to: Build new sports facilities, including a second football ground, swimming pool, and kabaddi court, and introduce badminton courts in the south campus. Renovate existing gyms and provide first-aid support during sports activities. Advocate for traditional sports like kabaddi and kho kho in university events while also promoting professional training for sports like badminton and shooting to compete at the national level. 4. Cultural Revitalization and Inclusivity: One of Akash’s key goals is to revive Sukoon, the university’s annual cultural festival, making it a zero-cost event funded through sponsorships and alumni contributions. This would save funds from the Students' Union and Welfare Fund, which could then be allocated to other student support initiatives. Akash also plans to establish a Cultural Society to organize monthly cultural events, art shows, and performances that celebrate the diversity and creativity of students. 5. Justice, Equity, and Student Welfare: Akash’s manifesto addresses critical issues like: Ensuring menstrual leave policies and attendance relaxation for women, alongside better healthcare support on campus. Supporting marginalised communities with an emphasis on gender minorities and differently-abled students. He advocates for the installation of ramps, wheelchair-friendly infrastructure, and expanded Braille book collections in the library. Promoting social welfare schemes like the Jnanabhoomi/e-PASS scholarships for students from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, removing bureaucratic delays and ensuring seamless implementation. Establishing policies to make campus life more accessible, including affordable health insurance and regular specialist visits to the university health centre. 6. Improved Infrastructure and Campus Facilities: Akash aims to bring much-needed improvements to the university’s infrastructure: Renovating hostels and creating separate facilities for differently-abled students, including attached washrooms and assistive devices like electronic scooters and laptops. Expanding campus transportation options by introducing wheelchair-friendly buses and ensuring proper maintenance of public spaces like libraries, hostels, and academic buildings.