“This Oasis, everything is being taken to the next level”

Ketul Mathuria, the StuCCan of the Department of Reception and Accommodation, says these words with a sunny smile and predicts that the days when people from the film industry visit BITS are not too far away. With 5 free- for- all embassy nights featuring artists from distant lands like Argentina and Israel, Rec n Acc does indeed have a lot on its plate.

Hence, a lot of precautionary measures have been taken to prevent any possible glitches. These include an increase in the number of electricians and odd-job running people to tackle any electricity or connection issues and introduction of a new chain-lock system to replace the unreliable in-built lock and key offered by the institute for the accommodation of the outstation participants. Other new features are a small truck for the long distance transport of mattresses, pillows and blankets and auto-rikshaws with standardized rates. Conveyance does become a problem for the participants who have no idea of the layout of the campus and auto-rikshaw rates increase exponentially during the fest. To combat this problem, 20-25 autos have been licensed to operate inside the campus on relatively lower rates : 10 rupees/person and 10 rupees/kilometer outside campus.

So far, Ketul does not foresee any problems except requests for the change of accommodation,  which he hopes to prevent by allotting single-occupancy rooms to the female participants. “The institute has been very generous in allowing us the use of single-occupancy rooms in Meera Bhawan and accommodation in staff quarters for the outstation participants” he tells the EPC representative while also letting slip that with the unavailability of FD1, VK Bhawan and Mal-A, he had to fight tooth and nail for place for departments and clubs to set up their tents/booths for overnight stay.

The days before the fest are very busy for his department as they visit each room they will be allotting at least 3-4 times for a security check. Any issues with the room like electricity, plumbing or infestation, windows and cleaning are reported to the EMU, which resolves them with all possible haste. This security check is repeated just before the participants are expected to arrive. This survey of rooms all over the campus is quite possibly, the most tiring work that the senior members of the department have to do. For the junior members, tiresome work begins when participants arrive, which will be 18th of October this year. The campus is fit to accommodate 1600-1700 visitors this Oasis and a 1000 people, including 500 girls, are expected to arrive by the 19th, who will all be escorted to their respective Bhawans or staff quarters by a first year member of the department. Apart from this physical work, Rec n Acc has cut down on its budget and paperwork by shifting to an app which facilitates quicker and more efficient communication of updates and makes the internal functioning of the department smoother and easier. They will, as always, have a 24 hour open hut in M-Lawns where people and help will be available throughout the fest.

When asked about his experience as a StuCCan, he shrugs and responds by saying “Being a StuCCan is not as glamorous as it is made out to be but one gets to learn a lot by meeting and conversing directly with people like the Director and the administrative staff. It teaches you how to deal with these people and gives you a different perspective.” Predicting difficulties and coming up with possible (and plausible) solutions is a talent he has picked up in his tenure as head of his department.

The first year batch of the department is the most energetic and enthusiastic the department has seen. Despite the drudgery of walking around the campus multiple times, they are excited, hard-working and well-bonded. if that is anything to go by, Ketul foresees a bright future for his department and the fest with better tents and decoration, no requests for change of accommodation and inventory checks where no article is unaccounted for.