DU Students demand concessional metro passes by protesting online using different social media platforms. They are keeping their demands under the right to education. Students are pointing out that spending approx. Rs 3000 a month just for metro travel is very inconvenient and expensive for students.
At first glance, spending ₹100 each day might not appear significant. However, when this expense recurs daily over a month, it quickly amounts to a substantial total. For a student, this seemingly small daily amount accumulates to a larger figure when consistently spent.
For students at Delhi University (DU), this translates to an additional burden, with around₹3,000 spent solely on commuting each month. When added to other expenses, this recurring cost can strain a student’s budget, making daily travel to college seem unnecessarily costly.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Delhi initiated a campaign to demand concessional metro passes for students throughout the city. As part of this initiative, SFI announced a Twitter storm on the social media platform X, set to begin on October 31.
The campaign officially kicked off on November 2 at 7 pm, with students and supporters rallying under the hashtag #StudentsForMetroPass. Participants tagged the official X accounts of key figures and organisations, including the Delhi Chief Minister, Atishi, the Urban Transport Department, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, and the Government of India. This social media effort aims to raise awareness and advocate for more affordable metro travel options for students across Delhi.
SFI further emphasised in their tweets that students should have access to affordable transportation options. They highlighted the importance of concessional metro passes, asserting that accessible and budget-friendly commutes are essential for students navigating the city daily for their education.
A student recently voiced their concern on social media, highlighting a difficult choice they face between saving money on commuting and attending classes. This dilemma underscores a critical issue: students should not have to choose between managing their expenses and pursuing their education.
When discussing the right to education, it’s essential to recognise that no student should encounter financial or otherwise barriers that prevent them from accessing learning opportunities. Education is a fundamental right, and any hindrance, particularly one as basic as the cost of travel, runs counter to this principle. All students must have equal access to education without having to weigh their financial limitations against their academic goals.
Aishe Ghosh, the State Secretary of the SFI Delhi Unit, compared their efforts to the initiative launched by L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Limited (LTMRHL). LTMRHL introduced the ‘Student Pass-2023’, a program aimed at making it easier for students to travel to colleges, schools, and other educational institutions. This pass provides a convenient and affordable transportation option, enhancing the daily commute for many students in the region.
Ghosh emphasised that one sustainable solution to Delhi’s serious air quality problems would be to increase the use of public transit. She pointed out that the national capital is severely hampered by pollution and underlined that using public transport would assist cut emissions and create a cleaner environment.
In a tweet, she also mentioned that government policies are a major factor in this shift. She made the suggestion that “the more we rely on public transport, the more we can cut down on emissions,” highlighting the significance of sensible policymaking to enhance air quality.
