NEW DELHI: The United Students on Sunday released its manifesto for the upcoming Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections with a promise to work towards creating a consensus on the reservation issue being the main highlight of its 11-point charter.

"Our manifesto is the result of extensive consultations and surveys of students' issues. Everything in this manifesto is representative of what really concerns us as students of Delhi University," said Aaditya Dar, who is the group's only candidate in the fray and is contesting for the post of president.

The manifesto addresses the serious issue of security of girl students and seeks compulsory identity cards for all campus inhabitants such as service providers and rickshaw pullers as well as controlled access to the campus.

Hygiene standards in toilets and canteens have also been addressed by seeking outsourcing of their maintenance to a professional organisation and a standards committee for canteens in the University.

Identifying transportation as a prominent concern area, United Students has called for connecting the far-flung areas of the Capital with U-Special buses. A shuttle service with hop-on hop-off facility for students has been demanded in both the North and South campus.

The charter also seeks to address the accommodation problem for girl students on the North Campus by demanding a residency of at least 500 rooms for them, particularly those from the Northeast.

"Each of our points in our manifesto is not only a demand, but provides a practical solution alongside. Our commitment to achieve these targets is non-negotiable, irrespective of how our candidate fares," said Anshulika Dubey of Miranda House, and a group member.

Releasing the manifesto to the press, Aaditya said: "We believe that a new direction must be given to the students movement. Traditional student unions are overly politicised and have become symptomatic of the maladies of our present political class. They are no longer about us, but about their political masters. Our manifesto is a reflection of what we want to see in our campuses and colleges - and in this great institution called Delhi University."

Several progressive ideas such as compulsory career counselling in colleges and enhancement of campus placements have been included in the charter.

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