Provide rent waiver to students, ABVP tells Delhi govt

 In the wake of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus, the students wing of RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), on Friday presented a memorandum to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of a baseline amount into the accounts of the residential students in Delhi in lieu of the rent amount they have to pay.

"Since the state machinery is thinly spread and preoccupied with containment measures, effective enforcement of the rent order appears improbable. Therefore, ABVP has suggested Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) of a baseline amount directly into the accounts of the resident-students," ABVP said in the memorandum.

It also advocated for dedicated helpline numbers to look after the psychological as well as general well-being of the students, fee-waiver in state-run schools, deferred payment in private coaching centres, and better digital infrastructure for seamless web-based instructions.

The missive, in addition to highlighting the plight of the resident-students, also attempted to draw attention to the difficulties being faced by the agriculturists as well as the frontline warriors in this collective battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ABVP also demanded Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits for the first responders and primary operators, proper and timely delivery of essential goods and services within the sealed Covid-19 hotspots, and firm regulation to check predatory pricing by pharmaceutical outlets.

It also suggested door-to-door procurement of harvested crops at increased Minimum Support Price (MSP) and periodic sanitisation of wholesale vegetable markets, while ensuring strict obedience to the rule of physical distancing.

"While the administrative arm of the state has taken potent containment measures in many spheres, their scope can still be increased with a special focus on targeted welfare measures for the disadvantaged sections of the society.

"The threats are multi-dimensional, impacting demographics differently and therefore warrant a comprehensive social response in this hour of crisis," Sidharth Yadav, State Secretary, ABVP Delhi, said. IANS