The document summarizes the findings of a study on campus democracy in India. It surveyed 78 colleges across various disciplines. Key findings include:
- Most students support student elections while faculty and administration are less supportive. However, many colleges still use nomination systems.
- Awareness of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations on campus politics is low and implementation is uneven.
- Many students see value in campus politics when non-violent, but some oppose it due to violence or impacts on academics.
- Student councils are not seen as very effective in addressing issues or grievances. Violence during elections also remains a problem in some areas.
2. Introduction
“Democracy is a form of government in which
everyone has a share”, AV Dicey
Campus Democracy shall be understood as
means to provide freedom of thought and
expression to youth
Campus Politics is a necessity which can provide
the training ground for youth to be a part of the
political machinery in India
Student participation and student representation
is imminent for the growth of nation
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3. About the Study
The study was undertaken by Civitas for LYF India
and supported by FnST
The Study was conducted in 78 colleges across the
country comprising
Arts, Commerce, Management, Medical, Engineering
and law colleges
Divided into east, west, north, north-east and south
Questionnaire based survey (Online and Offline)-
Students, student leaders, faculty and management
Compendium captured various facets of Campus
Democracy- Campus Politics, student organizations
and groups, activities, opinions and observations
Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, 2005
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5. Support for Students’ Election
Majority Students Support while few faculty and
Administration support Student Elections
73% students support student elections
24 % of the faculties and management supported
student elections
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6. Election or Nomination?
Students in favour of Election over nomination
Nearly half of the colleges surveyed followed
nomination systems
69 % of the students and 52 % of faculty
preferred elections over nominations
73% of the respondent students support election
in colleges where nomination systems are in
place.
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7. Perception on campus politics
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Students in favour of campus politics devoid of
violence and aimed at development of campus
Students’ opinion on Campus politics Percentage
Campus sans politics is not democratic 8
Dissatisfied/cynical with it because it does not raise and address campus
issues 5
It creates future leaders 12
It is the right of the student 25
It leads to a vibrant campus 11
Oppose it, as academics should not be combined with politics 19
Oppose it, as it is violent 13
No information 7
8. Awareness about Lyngdoh
Recommendations
Low awareness and Uneven Implementation of
Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations
39% students have heard of Lyngdoh
committee recommendations
46% campuses have implemented Lyngdoh
committee recommendations; 5% partially
implemented it
41% campuses take no action if students violate
Lyngdoh recommendations
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9. Perception of Students’ Union
Students concerned over Effectiveness of
Student Council/ Union
19% of the respondents felt that the Students
Council/Union were working for the development
of the Campus 16% 4%
1%
12%
21%
13%
19%
14%
Always
Do not have Student
Council
No
Often
Rarely
Sometimes
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10. ….Contd
Mere 6 % of the students found student council
effective in redressing their grievances
22 % of the colleges did not have any student
body (100 % in law, 57 % of management and 33
% of Engineering colleges and nil in Medical
colleges).
Dean of Student Welfare, Proctor, Student
Grievance redressal cell.
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11. Violence during Student Elections is a Reality
21% students reported that they had witnessed
violence during Students’ Union elections and
37% linked campus politics with violence
Incidence of violence reported at Aligarh Muslim
University, Lucknow University, Himachal
University, Kerala University
60% campuses have an election grievance
redressal cell
Violence inside Campus
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13. Voting pattern differs and have direct relation to
political awareness
Campuses like Kerala University and Calcutta
University have turnouts of 80-85% .While
Universities like Delhi University has a mere 25-
30% votes during the elections.
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14. Election expenditure
Violations of Financial Expenditure Limits is
Common
Nearly 41% of the colleges do not have specific
provisions relating to ceiling of financial
expenditure for student candidates
Financial expenditure of 18 % of student
candidates is over Rs 5000
29 % spend less than Rs 1500
12% candidates get financial support from
political parties
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15. An analysis of student politics in India
64%
25%
11%
Do Students Wish to Become
Student Leaders?
No Information No Yes
Number of youth (between 25- 40) in the present Parliament- 71 (Source
:CSDS Study)
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Source:www.theindiasite.com
16. Factors affecting Campus Democracy
Lack of management support and an enabling
environment for students to get involved in
democratic processes in the campus
Academic constrains not helping students
interested in campus politics
Restrictions for students’ involvement in politics
on campus
Lack of a platform for developing awareness on
campus democracy and governance processes
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17. …Contd
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Students’ lack of interest and distrust in political
and governance processes
Violation of basic principles of non-
violence, democracy, transparency and
accountability in educational institutions
End result of these dynamics are that student
councils are not effectively concentrating on
addressing students’ issues
18. Learnings
Reactions towards campus elections are mixed
with students demanding for more representation
Lyngdoh Committee recommendations are yet to
be taken under serious consideration- The
relevance of the recommendations need to be
understood in the present context
There is a definite influence of political parties on
the representation system
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19. …Contd
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Incidents of violence still take place during
elections
Majority of the private colleges, especially those
that offer professional courses, frown upon
campus elections- Students support a democratic
process
Majority of the faculty members feel that student
politics dilutes the spirit of academics and it’s
better kept out of the campus.
20. ..Contd
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Students are dis-interested to become student
leaders or take politics as a career- Increasing
role of youth politicians is encouraging
Majority of the students feel that student unions
are not the ultimate remedy to their problems-
Revisit the role of student unions with more
participation and transparency
Faculties and management’s feel that student
elections do not foster democratic practices on
the campus- Focus and priorities have changed
There is a considerable drop in student interest
towards campus politics and socio-political
issues- A social reality?