AISA Demands Institutional Inquiry Into LSR Student's Death

The All India Students’ Union (AISA) protested outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) headquarters on Thursday, November 12,  and demanded an institutional probe into the alleged death by suicide of Aishwarya Reddy, a student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women. The demonstrators also called for the disbursal of all pending scholarships as well as the strategic reopening of colleges and hostels.

AISA Demands Institutional Inquiry Into LSR Student’s Death By Suicide

A statement issued by the AISA cited the “negligence in the disbursement of scholarships, ignorance on the part of hostel policy and the unjust system of online education” as the reasons that have claimed the lives of many young students amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The statement, reported by The Hindu, also mentioned that the future of thousands of students have been tampered with, including that of the deceased LSR student.

Additionally, demonstrators also drew attention to the issues being faced by students from marginalised communities and the inaccessibility of online education. Notably, they also demanded that the fee be waived for the 2020-21 academic year.

Also Read: Does The LSR Student Suicide Amount To An ‘Institutional Murder’?

What You Should Know: 

• The All India Students’ Union (AISA) protested outside the University Grants Commission (UGC) headquarters on Thursday, November 12. 
• They demanded an institutional probe into the alleged death by suicide of Aishwarya Reddy, a student from Lady Shri Ram College for Women.
• The demonstrators also called for the disbursal of all pending scholarships, strategic reopening of colleges and hostels, and a fee waiver for the 2020-21 academic year.
• On Thursday, November 12, the LSR Students’ Union and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also protested outside Lady Shri Ram College. 

What Is The Case About?

Aishwarya Reddy, a Telangana-based student of Delhi’s prestigious Lady Shri Ram College for Women died by suicide on November 3. Reddy, who was pursuing BSc Mathematics (Honours) at the college, left behind a suicide note that mentioned financial difficulties. Despite being the recipient of the government’s ‘Inspire’ scholarship, awarded to her for topping class XII results, she hadn’t received the scholarship amount till the time of her death. Her parting note also mentioned that her parents had mortgaged their house and stopped sending their second daughter to school to fund her education. The incident has resulted in widespread outrage against the college administration and authorities, with many students terming the Reddy’s death an “institutional murder.” Read more about the case here.

Also Read: 10 Things To Know About The LSR Student’s Death By Suicide In Telangana

On Thursday, November 12, the LSR Students’ Union and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also protested outside Lady Shri Ram College demanding authorities to revoke the hostel policy that stipulates accommodation for first-year students only. They also protested against the recent notice issued by the college about vacating hostels. One of the protestors’ key demands referred to the distribution of data packs and tablets among students for attending online classes.

Tarini Gandhiok is an intern with SheThePeople.TV