ABVP Unit of Assam University writes to VC, demands rescheduling of convocation

Assam University Unit of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) unit have submitted a memorandum to the  Vice Chancellor seeking his intervention so that it become possible for all to attend the convocation. The 18th Convocation of Assam University, Silchar, which was earlier scheduled on 14 March. 2020, but postponed due to unavoidable situation, shall now be held on 24 December, 2020 (Thursday) in the University Campus. This was stated in a notification issued by Dr. P.K. Nath, Registrar in-charge of the varsity.

In the said notification, it was further stated that, “In view of the pandemic situation due to COVID•19 and the requirement of maintaining social distancing and other COVID related protocols, only D.Sc & Ph.D candidates and Gold Medalists in different courses who have earlier applied for attending the convocation will be allowed to attend the convocation and to receive their degree in person. Remaining candidates who have applied for attending convocation shall be allowed to attend online. Original certificate of those candidates will be dispatched by post to respective addresses. Detailed Instructions for attending the convocation shall be issued in due course of time.”

But since then, there was an huge uproar from individual students and many organisations who raised he demand of returning back the fees of those who were unwilling to attend the convocation in online mode. Under pressure, Assam University agreed to return the convocation fees of those students who are unwilling to attend the same in online mode.

On 4 December, the ABVP Unit of Assam University, Silchar in their memorandum to the Vice Chancellor wrote that, “Convocation is a dream for all aspirants to receive the certificate & attending the Convocation physically. As we all know the pandemic situation is going on & therefore maintaining Covid 19 protocol is also necessary.
Keeping all this in mind we have tried to point out some of the important points which has stated in the memorandum.”

1. Virtual Convocation so that all the students/ aspirants can receive their certificate on the same platform (like, through Indian post, which has said in earlier notification) and it will restrict the discrimination of students. If the university goes for virtual convocation, then extra charges should be refunded to the candidates.
2. Reschedule the date of convocation till the situation is normalized, so that, all the aspirants can receive their degrees by attending the convocation physically.
3. Rearrange (we can make a shift of (a)  D.Lit, D Sc. PhD, M.PhiI (b) Post-Graduation and (c) Graduation) the Convocation, so that, all the students/ aspirants can receive their certificates by maintaining the COVID-19 protocol.