As the festive season approaches at Delhi University, student unions find themselves contending with the recently issued guidelines by the university. In response to a series of incidents of sexual harassment at women’s colleges University issued some guidelines for holding fest. Among the 18-point ‘advisory to colleges/departments for holding programmes/events/fests,’ one specific directive is the pre-registration of fest attendees.
According to the guidelines, the entry process for events must be streamlined through a pre-registration of fest attendees. This can be facilitated through platforms like Google Forms. The crucial step involves maintaining and subsequently submitting this information to the local police. A copy of the same must be forwarded to relevant university departments.
In adherence to the protocol, the pre-registration of fest attendees will be done through registration forms. The forms must encompass scanned copies of the college identification cards of all participants. This comprehensive approach seeks to regulate event attendance and enhance security measures by collaborating with law enforcement.
Jyotsna Singh, English Honours student, holds the pivotal role of central counsellor in the student union at Miranda House. She expressed that the successful implementation of the upcoming guidelines hinges on the collective decision of the college regarding the potential inclusion of outsiders in this year’s fest. The crucial question she poses is how to guarantee that only pre-registered attendees will get access to the campus.
Reflecting on a past incident in October 2022, a disconcerting occurrence unfolded when a group of men reportedly scaled the walls of Miranda House during a Diwali fair, managing to enter the campus without adhering to security protocols. This incident underscores the pressing need to address security concerns and enforce measures that will prevent unauthorized entry during events.
Singh said she was unhappy with the existing policies because they are “vague and unmanageable.” In the best interests of the pupils, she questioned the rationale of adopting rules that are difficult to follow. She claims that following the occurrences at Indraprastha College for Women last year, the matter is still have not a fixed solution.
In particular, Singh was referencing an incident at IPCW where several men reportedly scaled the college walls and harassed female students. According to Singh’s criticism, more doable and effective steps have required to guarantee the security and welfare of students.
Miranda House Principal Bijayalaxmi Nanda emphasized the significance of recently introduced guidelines, stating that their primary purpose is to safeguard the well-being of students. She clarified that the implementation of these guidelines is at the discretion of each college, allowing flexibility in adherence.
Addressing safety concerns during student elections, college officials reported the installation of wires above the main gate at Miranda House. It was a precautionary measure to ensure the protection of students.
Meanwhile, at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College, central counsellor Harshitha Sharma accepted the necessity of guidelines for the safety students. However, she raised concerns about the practicality of pre-registration of fest attendees at events such as fests. Sharma questioned the feasibility of ensuring that even registered students do not pose any problems. She highlighted the challenges in enforcing such regulations.
Furthermore, Ms. Sharma highlighted that managing crowds at SPMC’s festivals has been less challenging due to the comparatively lower attendance, a benefit of not being located in North Campus. She acknowledged the potential difficulties faced by North Campus colleges in handling larger crowds.
Conversely, students at Jesus Mary College expressed optimism about the guidelines’ implementation. They have been seeing it as a means to regulate and manage festival crowds effectively. Located in the Embassy area and surrounded mainly by other women’s colleges, they have not encountered incidents similar to those in North Campus colleges. Alina Mariyam Benny, the president of the BA Programme department, emphasized the importance of pre-registration of fest attendees. She supported the record-keeping of the crowds, ensuring a safer and more manageable environment for their events.
The guidelines also emphasize that the responsibility for events lies with college and department authorities. Additionally, a pre-event assessment of the college’s boundary wall is necessary, with instructions to install concertina wires if the wall is low, preventing outsiders from scaling it. The guidelines further mandate the presence of CCTVs and a PA system at all college gates.
In a recent addition to the guidelines, it is specified that proper security arrangements and CCTVs should be in place outside ladies’ washrooms and changing rooms in every institution. These measures collectively aim to enhance security and ensure a controlled environment during college events.
