Over-The-Counter Forms Still Popular at Delhi University

By Vijetha S. N.

Delhi University aspirants filling up forms on Day Two of admissions on Thursday. Photo: Monica Tiwari

Thousands turn up for hard copy form on Day Two of admissions

Delhi University resembled a pickle-jar on Day Two of admissions on Thursday with thousands relentlessly trooping into its North Campus and hustling for an application form amid intensified humidity levels — belying the official estimates of the university, which pegged online sales as overtaking counter sales.

“We sold about 27,606 forms over-the-counter and 30,000 online,” declared Dean Students’ Welfare J.M. Khurana, adding that higher sales of 42,000 forms on Day One were an usual occurrence.

“We usually sell most forms on Day One and on the last day. I advise students not to wait till the last day to fill the form,” he added.

The crowds, however, belied online sales. So who really were all these people who hijacked the streets resulting in unbearable traffic jams, made rickshaw-wallahs and ice-cream vendors triple their prices and forced prospective students and parents to push their way around to find an application counter?

“We have already applied online. We just came to see how people apply here at the university and of course to see the North Campus,” said Poornima, a B. Com. aspirant from Rohini. Her gang of eight friends also had the same aim and were only a small speck in the crowd milling around the Arts Faculty.

“I have filled the form online, but decided to apply offline just in case,” said Sujatha, another B. Com aspirant from Dwarka. “I will only accept a seat in a North Campus colleges, so I thought I should come to see the place,” said Rohini resident Rajat Jain.

After the big fuss put up on Day One, the university finally set up white tents for “NSUI [National Students’ Union of India] and ABVP [Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad] volunteers,” “university volunteers”, “press” and of course tents with no names for the remaining.

Confused students got a lot of help from every quarter.

“We have decided to help students with admissions while also warning them about the horrid experience that the four-year programme is all about,” said All-India Students’ Association member Lakshya, who was wearing a t-shirt that read: “May I help you?” along with “ Reject FYUP.”

“The most common question we get is about the “OMG” forms. They usually think it is short for “Oh My God,” said a serious-faced Pragya, a student volunteer hired by Dean Students’ Welfare office.

Other centres were not as crowded and wore a deserted look by 12 noon. “The crowd management in the Arts Faculty is the toughest at about 10 a.m. We have to constantly supervise line discipline and break-up fights,” said NCC officer Ganga Prasad Sharma, adding the first day was always the toughest.