Cancel Exams, waive fees & promote on the basis of last year mark sheet: Sushmita Dev

July 10: As part of the ‘Speak up India’ initiative launched by the Congress party in India, former Silchar MP and President of All India Mahila Congress, Sushmita Dev on Friday night launched a video in her Facebook Page where she could be heard speaking on the issue of coronavirus pandemic and the decision of the central government in holding examinations amidst the growing number of COVID-19 positive cases.

Speaking up for India, Sushmita Dev said, “Cancel Exams, forgive fees & promote students on the basis of last year mark sheet.”She further said, “UGC is taking some such decisions that will cause great loss for the students. Though many places or cities were Unlocked, yet danger still seems to hang on for students if they sit together in the same room and give examination. Congress party raised the demand of promoting students this year on the basis of his/her marks in the previous year. However, till now, UGC has not agreed to this demand and is rather coming up with different notifications almost everyday. This has landed the students in great confusion.”

Ms. Dev further said, “We also raised the demand of scrapping the fees of the students by the Universities because education in a way is the right of the students. COVID has destroyed the economic framework and so it may also be very difficult for the students to pay their fees. So we have raised the demand of cancelling examinations, waiving of fees and promote students on the basis of the marks of the previous year.”

As regards the current trend of online education, Sushmita Dev said, “You might be aware that all students are not in a position to avail online classes. All does not have the facility of internet mostly because students today come from far off villages to study in the Universities. It is in this context, that I hope that these demands will be fulfilled by the UGC and so I also rest this matter with the HRD Ministry to accept our demand.”

It needs mention here that Sushmita Dev had tested COVID-19 positive on Wednesday and at present is undergoing treatment at Silchar medical College and Hospital (SMCH). She is asymptomatic and her condition is stable.