A vocal student...

"I hope you and your families are doing great during these tough pandemic times" - Greetings for the day in the current COVID world. I am Tushar, a master's student from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal.

COVID has changed our current lives, and a world beyond it would be different, for sure. Today, as I write this, over 7 million COVID patients are reported across the globe, to which India contributes more than 270 thousand cases. India - The home to second-biggest population, is facing the pandemic to its worse now; with a fear of escalating the magnitude even further. To this, shabby administrative policies are adding to worsen the situation. A recent example of this was seen when student hostels in some government institutes like IISERs and IITs were made into quarantine centers.

One may question my intent to call this shabby and argue this as the need for desperate times. Well, we would have definitely supported the purpose; given, it was done in a bit more constitutional way. Just think about, how would you feel if someone breaks open your locked room and displace your personal belongings, without your concern? This is precisely what local administration has done to our rooms at IISER Bhopal, in front of incapable college administration, which of course, is strung by government policies. The given argument to support the actions was a legal notice stating that the hostels are the government property, thus can be seized at any given time.

We very well acknowledge the grimness of the situation and are more than willing to contribute to it in whatever way possible. But some questions stand out - Why such actions were performed in a snap? Why were students not informed about them beforehand? Who will be responsible for our misplaced valuables, be it ornaments, electronics, or even certificates and documents? And more importantly, is our government really prepared to fight the situation, as they openly claim in the public domain. What were local authorities doing, in the last three months of lockdown - that was supposed to concrete our preparations? Furthermore, to how much extend is it fair to turn a research institute like IISERB into a quarantine center? Rather, whose facilities should be utilized to tackle the pandemic situation by promoting indigenous vaccine development, for example. Unfortunately, non of these are answered as yet.

The reality is - COVID situation is evolving at a pace, which authorities and governments have failed to anticipate. Nevertheless, whatever happened, we are demanding that at least now local administration should claim the responsibilities of the actions that were performed. They should provide an explanation to waste of time and resources that institute and its enrolls would pay, once officially colleges are authorized to re-open. If they think it is fair to take our small hostel rooms to make quarantine center, in the name of government property; then why are they reluctant to utilize those acres of government residence property for big fat politicians - Both are meant for living, right? Have a thought and remember to never stop asking questions, we are still a democracy.

Jai Hind!! Vande Mataram!!

- Tushar