The Students’ Islamic Organisation (SIO)-Telangana has released a student manifesto ahead of the Assembly elections. The manifesto focuses on education, employment, and youth issues. The SIO has been advocating for equal access to quality education, especially for minorities and backward classes.
The SIO members expressed concern about the current educational situation in the state. The education budget has been decreasing, causing educational institutions to suffer. The SIO demands that the government allocate 30% of the budget for education, as recommended by the Kothari Commission.
The manifesto also addresses the issue of minority scholarships. Many students are unable to obtain certificates from educational institutions due to delayed scholarship payments, forcing them to take out loans. The SIO demands that the government promptly pay the arrears and improve the scholarship process. It also highlights the injustice faced by DSC Urdu medium students and calls for the government to de-reserve posts and fill all Urdu medium seats in DSC-2023.
The manifesto raises concerns about the future of TMREIS (Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society). It demands that the government allocate a budget to secure the future of TMREIS by making it a “sub-plan” instead of a minority budget and construct its buildings on Wakf lands.
Furthermore, the manifesto emphasizes the importance of protecting individuals’ privacy, both in digital and other forms. It opposes any state authority having the power to monitor, collect, or share private citizens’ information without a valid legal cause and due process of law. The manifesto also addresses the issue of abandoned properties in state educational institutions and calls for their immediate utilization.
Lastly, the manifesto discusses student politics in state universities. It highlights the lack of youth leadership and demands the government to restore student elections based on the recommendations of the Lyngdu Commission.
