• Ex-students play guides to freshers •

DNA Newspaper, 12th July 2008

Members of mvss have set up a counter at the varsity's gate

As the admission process picks momentum at the university of Pune (UoP), an ex-students' group is camping at its entrance to help students, especially from rural areas to find their way through the UoP's labyrinth.

Basavant Dhumane of Maharashtra vidyarthi sangharsh samiti (mvss) and four other members are camping at the uop gate since monday to guide students to their desired spot, be it for admission forms, attestations or photocopying. The group will offer help till July 15.

Dhumane told DNA, "when we were students we had to run from pillar to post to get smallest of the things done." things haven't changed according to him despite the hype, accreditation and several announcements by the uop.

mvss is a new avatar of an earlier students' group pursuing nandigram-type agitation in the state. "we are taking up causes of the common man at every level of society," he said.

The DNA team witnessed at least two urbane students and a parent making queries at the counter regarding the banking facility and the uop website. Outstation students, who sought admission to colleges in or outside the city, found the enquiry table "very handy".

Some students found it odd that for a naac-accredited a-grade and a "truly international" university, there was no public transport available on the campus. This made two destinations look miles apart for them.