Memorandum submitted regarding several issues by Ambedkar Students Association to the VC Office

On Monday, Ambedkar Students Association of Panjab University submitted a memorandum to the Vice Chancellor.

The Ambedkar Students Association has the following four main demands:

1) The Girls' hostel number 5 is named after India's first female teacher, Mata Savitribai Phule. However, the hostel name is written as Savitribai Phule rather than Mata Savitribai Phule, which is disrespectful to Mata Savitribai Phule. In this regard, Girls Hostel No. 5 received a memorandum for the same.

2) The Holiday Calendar for 2023 issued by Panjab University has Vaisakhi/Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14, which is not justified because Baba Saheb, the architect of the Indian Constitution, famous by the name of Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar in the world, was named Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as a sign of respect.

3) They also said that PU , abides by Punjab Govt regulations as Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji's photos to be displayed in all dept. and offices. This request was made in response to a directive from the Punjab Government.

4) They also demanded construction of a new hostel in campus . This hostel is demanded under a scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment "Pradhan Mantri Scheduled Castes Abhyudaya Yojana'' which is meant for students belonging to the Scheduled Castes.

The goal of this program is to solve the issue that students from Scheduled Castes face when it comes to not having access to university hostels.

Therefore, ASA requested the varsity to send a letter to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in this regard at the earliest so that a new hostel can be constructed in PU.

Additionally, they have also asked that the hostel be named after "Mata Ramabai Ambedkar , India's first Muslim female teacher Mata Fatima Sheikh" or else, if the Dept of Social Justice and Empowerment grants the grant money for the construction of a GH. And if the grant is for boys hostel then the hostel shall be erected in honour of our Constitution Maker, Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Report by Nandini Kapil

Graphics by Charu Thakral