Telangana students’ union SIO releases manifesto ahead of Lok Sabha polls

Hyderabad: To address concerns impacting education and the societal well-being of minorities in India, the Students’ Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) in Telangana unveiled a students’ manifesto for the forthcoming elections, with a focus on quality education for students and the implementation of reservations.

“Youth are concerned about jobs and education, but the government is not serious about finding solutions. In this regard, SIO has released a complete student manifesto. Equal possibilities for students should be provided for the upkeep of social harmony and the nation’s progress,” MLC-designate Professor M Kodandaram said after unveiling the SIO’s manifesto. He also appealed to the government to pay attention to the opinions of the students and work diligently to address their issues.

Decrease in share of funds worries students

SIO Telangana Secretary Mohd Faraz Ahmed raised concerns regarding the Centre’s decision to end important religious minorities’ educational programs, curtail others, cut funding for programs run by the Ministry of Minority Affairs, and reduce the education budget share to 2.9 per cent of GDP – a significant decrease from the 6 per cent target established by the National Education Policy 2020.

Ahmed also brought up the striking difference between the 2.1 per cent of GDP that India allot to public healthcare and the roughly 10 per cent that nations like Japan, Canada and France allot to the same sector.

“One of India’s main issues right now is unemployment. As of March 1, 2023, there were around 10 lakh open positions across all ministries, according to the Prime Minister Office’s written response to an unstarred question posed in the Parliament,” he said.

Dropout among Muslim students high

The SIO Telangana secretary criticised the government for not being interested in staffing universities and ministries with empty chairs. He claimed that the testing and selection procedures are rife with corruption and ineffectiveness.

Addressing the alarming dropout rates among Muslim students, SIO national secretary Abdullah Faiz emphasised that the Institute of Objective Studies reported a 23.1 per cent dropout rate, surpassing the national average of 18.96 per cent. The enrolment of Muslim students dropped from 5.5 per cent in 2019-20 to 4.6 per cent in the academic year 2020–21, he said.

Decrease in academic, religious freedom

Abdul Faiz also shed light on the erosion of academic freedom, as reflected in India’s position in the bottom 30 per cent among 179 countries in the academic freedom index prepared by the V-Dem Institute.

He also expressed deep concern over the mental health crisis, citing National Crime Records Bureau data reporting suicide as the leading cause of death among people aged 15 to 30, with an average of 34 students taking their lives every 42 minutes.

Abdulla Faiz drew attention to the exponential rise in hate crimes, citing Amnesty International and the DOTO Database, urging immediate attention to protect lives and combat religious discrimination. He stated that the students and youth are the biggest constituency of this country, and political parties must specially cater to their needs when seeking votes. He added that the manifesto is asking political parties to invest in the future of the country.

Faiz also stressed that the students and youth are not going to be mollified by empty promises or distracted by divisive political agendas. Instead, they strongly demand solid election manifestos that guarantee accessible and quality education, employment, peace, and a safe environment, he added. JIH Telangana vice president Azharuddin said, “The SIO has always wanted a constructive struggle, especially in the field of education; it has been constantly raising its voice for justice and providing equal opportunities for all. The voices of fair-minded students and youth should seriously be considered by all political parties.”

The students’ manifesto consists of pressing demands from the student community, which SIO wants to be the main focus of the 2024 parliamentary election. The students’ manifesto highlights the following areas:

- Advocating for a fair and just reservation system to ensure opportunities for all.

- Focus on the upliftment of marginalised regions for balanced development.

- Enactment of the Rohith Act to ensure justice and the safety of students.

- Reinstating MANF and increasing scholarships for minorities.

- Strict anti-discrimination laws and personal data protection, law and privacy charter.

- Dedication to environmental initiatives and sustainable practices through environment and sustainability funds of Rs 1,000 crores.

- Prioritising the holistic well-being of the youth through health and mental wellness centres for youth across India

- Ensuring free and compulsory education from elementary to university level

- Paving the way for job security and opportunities for the nation’s youth