Hyderabad: University grievance cells of no use

Hyderabad: University students in Hyderabad have no place to go if they have any issue regarding their academics or have any other university linked problem, despite the fact that universities in Hyderabad have a Student Grievance Redressal Cell. 

In fact most students are not even aware that a grievance cell exists, leave alone approaching it to resolve any problem. 

The main reason for the Grievance Cells’ nonfunctional avatar is that there is a marked lack of student representatives in them. Students say that they have to depend more on student unions to resolve their issues.  

The formation of Students’ Grievance Cell is to ensure effective solution to students’ grievances, impartially and in a fair manner. The grievance cells also help to co-ordinate between students and departments and other sections to redress grievances, but students are disappointed with the grievance cells existing in the universities. 

Students say that they have to depend more on student unions to resolve their issues

According to students, almost all the grievance cells in the universities are chaired by faculty members of various departments and every department has their own grievance cell adding to the general chaos. 

Students also claim that majority of them are not aware about the grievance cells as there are no proper offices assigned to these committees. 

G.S. Suman, general secretary UoH students union said, “Recently a few students had filed a complaint in the grievance cell against a particular department saying that they had enrolled for a summer course in the campus but they were failed intentionally by some faculty members. Even after the complaint no action was taken against the faculty due to which the students had to quit the summer courses.” 

He added, “Rarely are students’ grievances resolved by these committees. They hear the case but take ages to find a solution. Majority of the students prefer not to approach the cells. Sometime back when students without 75 per cent attendance were barred from writing exams, they approached the grievance cell. But nothing was done. In fact after listening to the students’ version, they referred the case to the Central Grievance Committee because of which the students lost an academic year as they were not allowed to write the examination.” 

Nakahari Debbaema, a student said, “The major problems is that every department will have their own committee and students are not aware about who the committee members are. How will they approach these committees then?”

 Everybody should be aware of these committees with awareness created about the grievance cells so that they utilise it properly.”

How will they even approach these committees then? Everybody should be aware of these committees with awareness created about the grievance cells so that they utilise it properly.”