Student Struggle Editorial Team
This is the entire text of the official statement released by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) to the press, regarding the outbreak of coronavirus induced COVID-19 in India.
Read the full statement below:
We all know that the next two weeks are very vital in our fight against the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. There have been directives asking people to avoid large gatherings and to take fundamental precautions to the greatest extent. All educational institutions have been closed on an emergency basis for the coming few days. In this context, some important aspects need to be addressed.
1. There are exams still taking place. Many of them have not been postponed and for rational reasons too. However, it is imperative for the government to provide hand sanitizers and masks to the examinees and the invigilators. The exam centres need to be sanitized as well.
2. A few private educational institutions have not been closed yet. The Ministry of Human Resources Development (MHRD) and Education Ministries of different states need to play an important role in communicating with respective authorities and understand their perspectives.
3. Due to the closure of educational institutions for an entire month, much less time would be available for the completion of syllabus and exams would be very near when the institutions finally reopen. For students and teachers alike, these are difficult times, especially because of the CBCS-Semester system. Provisions should be made immediately for sending study material and summaries of classes through audio-visual means. Further means should be implemented for reaching those families, who do not have access to WhatsApp themselves.
4. Many states have committed to providing mid-day meals to the homes of the students, following the initiative in Kerala. Mid-day meals are of special importance to marginalised and backward classes. In the past, there has been several instances of corruption as part of providing these meals. Respective departments and ministries must ensure proper delivery of mid-day meals to students, avoiding any kind of corrupt practices and irregularity.
5. The govt must take initiatives to stop unscientific and irrational practices, such as drinking cow urine and such in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.
6. SFI urges all units and SFI-led students’ unions in the colleges, state and central universities, along with private universities, to manufacture hand sanitizers and masks according to their capacities. SFI will organise the distribution of those in their respective areas along with the authorities.
Our comrades have already been pro-active in carrying out awareness campaigns in the country. As a responsible students’ organisation, we will always be ready to cooperate with the fight against COVID-19, if the government wants any sort of help or cooperation from us.
The government must scale up the number of testing facilities in order to cover the widest sections of people as possible, especially those with symptoms like cold, fever, cough etc. The government must also increase its expenditure to strengthen public health system with adequate free testing, hospital facilities, isolation wards and ventilators. It is important to rope in private hospitals to provide free treatment to corona virus patients.
It is important to expand and strengthen public distribution to cover all essential commodities, and ensure proper delivery and distribution to all sections of society, especially those belonging to marginalised and backward sections. In lieu of mid-day meal scheme in schools, the government must provide ration kits to children’s homes/families.
The government must also institute financial packages for sectors extra hit by the pandemic. Since our country is going through a period of recession, this might descend into a depression, if remedial steps are not taken. This financial support must be conditional to companies and enterprises not resorting to lay-offs and termination of jobs for the next three crucial months.
The Students’ Federation of India also calls for a “Clean Challenge” as we believe that cleanliness of public spaces, along with one’s personal hygiene, is vital to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Released by
VP Sanu (President)
Mayukh Biswas (General Secretary)
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