DU holds job mela for UG, PG, PhD, excludes School of Open Learning students; KYS stages protest

The University of Delhi organized a “Job Mela: Placement and Internship Drive” today for regular Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), PhD students and DU alumni. However, the event faced protests from the Krantikari Yuva Sangathan (KYS) over the exclusion of School of Open Learning (SOL) students from participation.

The Delhi University -led placement drive saw participation from over 93 recruiters from corporate, startup, non-profit, consultancy, and research sections, offering more than 2,500 vacancies.

“In the details of the programme as mentioned on the programme brochure, it is specifically stated that the Job Mela is only for regular undergraduate, postgraduate , PhD students and even DU Alumni. This specifically bars SOL students from participating in the Job Mela,” KYS said in an official statement.

Also read Degrees Without Jobs: 40% of graduates in India can’t find work, fewer get salaried employment, find report

Not first time DU ignoring SOL students: KYS

According to the students’ activist group, various official posts by several college administrations on social media stated that SOL students were not eligible for participation in the DU’s job mela.

Claiming that this was not the first time that the university has barred SOL students from participating in university-led events, the KYS said: “For instance, in 2019, in a logo-designing competition conducted by Women’s Studies Development Centre, SOL students were specifically barred from participating.”

In addition, the students’ activist group also claimed that the DU administration was “forced” to allow SOL students in the programme.

Barring SOL students from the placement drive is “blatant discrimination”, the group stated: “The DU SOL principal and dean, students’ welfare met with SOL students, and the DU administration was forced to allow SOL students to participate in the programme.”

“It has been conceded that in the future, SOL students will not be barred from any such programme. KYS will continue its wider struggle against inequality and discrimination in DU and other higher education institutions with renewed intensity,” it added.