The English Press Club (EPC) spoke to Harsh Shukla, President of the Students’ Union (SU), and Harsh Lamba, General Secretary of the Students’ Union (SU), to understand the work they did last semester. They were also questioned about the various points mentioned in their election manifestos. This is a review of how well the manifesto was implemented last semester. The points which have currently been given Grade Awaited (GA), are currently under review as the previous semester was shorter than usual due to the ongoing pandemic. They will be given a grade in our year-end review. The given letter grades might also be changed in the year-end review.

President: Harsh Shukla

1. Campus Reopening and Tackling COVID-19 — (B: 4 units)

Points

• A state-of-art ambulance service and vaccination camp would be established on-campus.
• Students would form a part of the Campus Reopening Team to formulate policy and make crucial decisions regarding reopening.
• Tie-ups will be made with major hospitals in Delhi/Jaipur to open clinics on campus with top end facilities to tackle COVID cases on campus.

Performance

Vaccination camps were organised last semester with the help of the SU, wherein students who were due for the second dose of the vaccine could get one free of charge. A camp was also organised recently for the 2021 batch students on campus. 

Shukla mentioned that there had been a minor outbreak in January where the case count was 90 cases at the peak. The people who had tested positive were either quarantined in Malviya Studio Apartments (MSA) or their own homes. The duo mentioned that the District Magistrate had visited the campus to gauge the situation. Due to the efforts from the administration, the outbreak was contained and the situation is well under control now. As of now, no tie-ups with major hospitals in the area have been implemented. 

2. Practice School Reforms (Grade Awaited)

Point

• PS 1 & PS 2 will be unlinked, fee will be reduced and proper breakdown of PS expenses will be made available.

Update

Shukla said that the motivation behind unlinking PS-I and PS-II was the exorbitant fees charged for PS-I. After talking to the Practice School Division (PSD) deans, he mentioned that they are pushing for a ‘better model’ that links PS-I and PS-II companies. This, according to him, will improve the quality of companies that come for PS-I and allow students to do PS-I and PS-II in the same company. He believes this would also justify the expense and lead to ‘significant improvements overall’. Shukla does not think that unlinking PS-I and PS-II in this case would be needed.

3. Academic Initiatives (A-: 3 units)

Points

• Impartus would be included in NAB classrooms to avail recorded lectures.
• Minors in Robotics, PEP (Politics, Economics & Philosophy), Machine learning & AI would be added to the curriculum.
• Exchange programs with top Universities would be set up to facilitate exchange semesters.

Performance

The option for pursuing a Minor degree in Politics, Economics & Philosophy (PEP) has been introduced this semester, with two students availing it. It had been discontinued because of the lack of participation from the students, Shukla remarked. There is no professor available to teach one required course for the Robotics minor. This is because Prof. BK Rout, who used to teach it, was promoted to the position of the Registrar. Shukla said that a recruitment notice has been put out for this role and he believes that this minor will be offered next semester.

4. Increasing student representation in decision making bodies (Grade Awaited)

Point

• Student representation would be increased in the Senate, Disciplinary Committee, PSD, and AUGSD.

Update

The SU has received approval for their proposal to increase student representation in the Disciplinary Committee, AUGSD, and PSD, Shukla revealed. Currently, they are working on forming teams for the recruitment process for these roles. He added that respective recruitment emails for these positions will be sent out shortly. They have not received approval to increase representation in the Senate and are currently in talks to push for the same. 

5. Public transport and electric bicycles initiative (Grade Awaited)

Points

• Collaboration with startups for introduction of E-rickshaws at standardised rates on campus. 
•  Partnering with startups to bring e-cycles and install charging stations on campus.

Update

Lamba explained that earlier, the rickshaw and auto-rickshaw drivers on campus used to charge exorbitant rates; these prices have been negotiated in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer, with fixed rates for travelling to different places on campus. The students will be provided with a rate list, which will also be available in every rickshaw. They said that this initiative will be tentatively launched in the coming semester.

6. Food delivery service and digitising ordering and payment at eateries (Grade Awaited)

Points

• Hostel delivery service from food outlets would be implemented to prevent overcrowding of students at eateries.
• Ordering, payment and tracking of food from campus eateries would be digitised into the SU app.

Update

Currently, the Students’ Union app offers many services like ordering at eateries, cab services, and a complaints portal. The takeaway option for these eateries will be available as soon as the SU tech team comes back to campus, Lamba clarified. This will allow students to order food items and get them delivered to their hostel rooms.

7. Rejuvenating campus culture (Grade Awaited)

Points

• An Inter-hostel fest would be established to include co-curricular and cultural events to foster bonding between the batches.
• Inter-BITS culture will be developed through collaborative events and competitions.

Update

The SU faced many challenges in their attempt to organise Oasis, which was supposed to happen in October but got postponed to January. Since the third wave hit the country, these plans have also been scrapped, they clarified. They stated that there were a lot of government restrictions on mass gatherings throughout the semester, so there is no plan to conduct an inter-hostel fest as of now. 

Diwali Night was organised for the students who stayed back on campus for the festival. Shukla mentioned that the SU is preparing for APOGEE right now, with the groundwork being laid for ‘hybrid’ mode with both in person and online events. They are hopeful that APOGEE can be successfully conducted in April as most models predict the third wave to subside by late March. 

FINAL CGPA: 8.42

General Secretary: Harsh Lamba

1. Accelerating Campus Reopening (B: 4 units)

Points

• Campus Reopening Team (CRT) for making an SOP along with SWD, ensuring early and safe reopening of campus and updating GBM with the advancements made CRT will be a student team and will also ensure measures for a safe stay on campus by providing Anti-Covid essentials and implementing an SOP for assisting affected students.
• Extending Mediclaim Insurance policy to include Covid cases

Performance

The Students’ Union (SU) had constantly pushed the administration by conducting multiple meetings with the directors of the three campuses, the duo explained. They mentioned they had worked on the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed when the campus reopened, and helped build a vaccination and room allotment portal with the Department of Visual Media (DVM). Shukla said that the SU had been in regular contact with the Campus Reopening Team (CRT); they received an update after every CRT meeting. However, the CRT has no student representative in it contrary to what was mentioned in Harsh Lamba’s manifesto. The CRT is in contact with the SU before and after every meet. They had impressed the need for a separate campus reopening process for the three campuses upon the members of the CRT. This had been necessary as any proposal they made earlier needed the approval from all the campuses, Shukla explained. The suggestion was accepted, which resulted in the Pilani campus taking decisions independently of the other two campuses. 

2. Alumni-Student Mentorship Programme (Grade Awaited)

Point

• A properly structured flagship programme for one-on-one student mentorship for career preparation under which interested students will be connected to alumni excelling in their respective fields.

Update

The Alumni-Student Mentorship Program, mentioned in Harsh Lamba’s manifesto, aims to connect people who require mentorship with alumni who are pioneers in their respective fields. Lamba elucidated that the SU has been in contact with BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA) to implement this, and the basic structure has been laid out. They expect to roll out this initiative this semester. 

3. SU Cycle Rental Service (Grade Awaited)

Points

• Cycles left on campus by Alumni will be repaired and used for yearly rental service.
• Setting up cycle stands of companies like Mybyk and Zoomcar PEDL to provide hourly rental service at around Rs. 2 to 4 per hour.

Update

The proposal to repair the abandoned cycles on campus for students’ use has been signed by the Chief Warden. Lamba mentioned that the SU has plans to repair these cycles, paint them black, and make them available for the students to use free of charge. Aside from this, he mentioned that they restored some bicycles donated by the alumni and distributed them to Chowkidars and Redi owners for their use. The SU is in talks with six to seven companies to set up a rental e-cycle service on campus, and they are hopeful that they can implement the same this semester.

4. Deferred Placement Programme (A: 3 units)

Points

• Students will have an option to come back for campus placements within 2 years of graduation.
• This will be beneficial for students pursuing startups or preparing for civil services.

Performance

The duo talked about how, after several meetings with the directors, the Deferred Placement Program has been successfully implemented. This program allows students to pre-register and come back for campus placements within two years of graduation. They clarified that the program is available on a ‘case-to-case basis’ and more information about this is available on the placement website.

5. Entry of girls in messes near academic blocks (Grade Awaited)

Point

●  Allowing girls to enter boys’ messes during breakfast and lunch hours to reduce the

inconvenience of travelling to and fro from Meera Bhawan in between classes.

Update

Lamba remarked that the SU is currently working towards allowing Meera residents to enter the boys’ messes near the academic blocks. After talking to the SSMS President and other concerned authorities, plans are progressing, and new contracts are being laid out. ‘We are trying our best to resolve the logistical issues, and we are hopeful that we can implement this in the coming semester, ’ Lamba said. During last semester’s mid-semester and comprehensive exams, Meera residents were given the option to eat in messes near the academic block on a sign-up basis.

6. Laundromat for Meera Bhawan (Grade Awaited)

Point

● Construction of a separate Laundromat for Meera Bhawan residents, accompanied by faster

service and more frequent laundry collection from all hostels.

Update

Lamba explained that the proposal for setting up a Meera laundromat has been approved and it should be functional by the month of February. Shukla added that the construction for this is practically done, except for minor issues, which will be fixed shortly. He also mentioned that all permissions have been procured, and water and electricity supply provisions have been made. 

7. Ungraded Lab Courses for a first-hand experience (Grade Awaited)

Point

● An option to attend lab courses will be given to students who want to get hands-on experience.

Update

The SU had spoken with the AUGSD deans to offer ungraded lab courses to get the hands-on experience that students missed out on because of online labs. Lamba mentioned that the proposal has been accepted and should be implemented next semester. He explained that the institute had not been able to offer it this semester as this semester started online and the AUGSD planned to conduct all classes online.

8. Betterment in Hostel Facilities (Grade Awaited)

Points

● Coolers and Microwaves in all the common rooms and Sinks near water coolers

● Foosball table and Chromecast devices in all the hostels

Update

The SU stated that they are in the process of having coolers arranged in all the common rooms. Currently, the proposal for foosball tables in these rooms has been accepted and the budget is under review by the Student Welfare Division.

FINAL CGPA: 8.85

Other initiatives

Fundraisers:

The SU organised fundraisers for some of the Institute employees. The revenue generated by these were used to help institute employees like the owner of Gandhi Redi, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Tomar, who needed financial help for the medical procedures required for his mouth cancer treatment. Help was also provided to the family of an employee of BITS COOP who passed away in October, and a student who needed financial help to cover for his father’s medical expenses after he tested positive for COVID-19.

Campus facilities:

The SU had made provisions for the availability of trunks used to store the students’ belongings while leaving campus. They had also offered a service for the ease of using quilts to tackle the Pilani winters. Aside from this, the duo mentioned that cab services were provided to shuttle students to and from common airports, and train stations for half the current market price. Students sitting for placement season had the option to opt for custom-tailored suits on campus, which was also an SU initiative.

The delay in laundromat services in the previous semester has been resolved by installing new water tanks in both Mal-B and CVR laundromats, the duo assured. This will also take care of any water shortage problems during the Pilani summers, according to them.