Delhi polls: Safety of women, job key issues for DU students

New

, Dec 1: Corruption, safety of

and employment are likely to be the main issues on the minds of Delhi University students while casting their votes in the December 4

.

Student outfits are leaving no stone unturned to ensure a high voter turnout by the students despite the exam season. Students of DU, considered a cauldron of young minds from across the country, are eagerly waiting for the poll day as most of them would be voting for the first time.

DU students said corruption, unemployment, high food prices and safety of women were as much their concern as of those outside the university campus and that they want the contesting parties to seriously address their issues.

"It is as much a campus issue as a national one"

Karishma Thakur, Secretary of Delhi University Students' Union, said safety of girls on the campus was definitely a huge concern among the students. "Safety of girls is definitely an issue that is top priority for students. Whichever party convinces that they can provide the best security arrangements in campus will get students' support. I believe there should be more lady constables in the campus. Also a women's cell should be formed," she said.

"The kind of employment opportunities that parties promise to students passing out of Delhi University will also be a huge deciding factor. The next step for students after education is job, and that’s their biggest priority," Thakur said.

In fact, employment and safety of women students were also top issues of various student outfits during this year's DUSU polls. NSUI, of which Thakur was a candidate in DUSU polls, had even organised a job fair in the university in June this year when it was in power in DUSU.

The BJP affiliated ABVP, which was voted into office in this year's DUSU polls, also had employment and women safety as its top priorities. On the issue of fighting graft, ABVP's Delhi state vice-president Rohit Chahal says, "Corruption is something that affects every one of us including the students.

It is as much a campus issue as a national one. "High prices too have made students life difficult. Several out-station students are struggling to meet even their basic needs given the high rates of everything around us. Even the college fee has increased drastically."

PTI