Interview with SU President

The English Press Club interviewed Satyansh Rai, the President of the Students’ Union (SU), to talk about the work he and the SU have been doing for the past couple of months.

Taking into account residents’ complaints about large variations in the water temperatures, water tanks in Ram and Budh Bhawan were insulated to ensure optimal water temperature throughout the year. After taking residents’ feedback this semester, the water tanks of other hostels would also be insulated. The hostels that are being renovated would come installed with 6 layered insulated water tanks from the get-go. The entire cost of this refurbishment would be borne by the Estate Management Unit.

To ensure that MCN scholarships are not exploited, a committee is being set up. It will have three student representatives along with the SWD Dean and the Chief Warden.

Talking about the Problem Identification Drive that the SU launched amongst the freshers, Satyansh said that during a recently held meeting between the SU Core Committee members and SU Volunteers, the volunteers raised several issues that the students were facing. Since the freshers were not involved in the election process this year, the problems faced by them were not reaching the SU. The SU Core Committee members went around SR, Krishna, Gandhi, and VK Bhawans, interacting with as many freshers as possible to identify the problems that they face. They also circulated a Google Form to do the same. Every student who raises an issue is also told about the time it would take for their problem to be resolved.

About the vending machine being installed in the library, Satyansh said that each machine costs around ₹3.5 Lakh, the cost for which is being borne by the company who has installed it. Twelve such machines are going to be installed by the first week of February, with others being installed in the LTC and the common rooms of various Bhawans across campus. Sanitary pad dispensers will also be installed across campus within the same time-frame, one each in the Library, all academic blocks and three in Meera Bhawan. A contract to that effect has already been signed between the administration and company, Vendiman. Due to the lack of washrooms for women from the Main Gate till NAB, the Estate Management Unit plans on installing a washroom for women in the building being constructed in front of Shankar Bhawan, to ensure that they do not have to travel all the way to Meera to use washroom facilities.

The administration, in a meeting held on 24th January, sanctioned the opening of an Amul parlour. Issues with the choice of the vendor were the primary reason for the delay in this project. The deadline set by the administration for the setup of the parlour is 10th February. They also plan on inaugurating the Jawed Habib Salon in a few days.