Not many takers for DU's online registration

Even as Delhi University’s (DU) application procedure rolled into in its fifth day, a large number of students —mostly from outside the national Capital — flocked to the campus on Saturday to collect forms because they did not know that an online system for sale was in place. Shaswati Das reports.

Even as Delhi University’s (DU) application procedure rolled into in its fifth day, a large number of students —mostly from outside the national Capital — flocked to the campus on Saturday to collect forms because they did not know that an online system for sale was in place.

HT Image

While DU recorded a total sale of 33,000 online forms, sources claimed that most students who did not know about the online procedure were either from very humble backgrounds or from outside the city.

“I was not aware that DU has an online admission process. Students who live outside Delhi do not get to know that such a system exists. Even if I have the option, I would not have wanted to opt for the online OMR form because there is no certainty of whether or not my form will get accepted,” said Pratibha Sharma, an aspirant from Ambala who had come to the Faculty of Arts.

University officials, too, said a sizeable number of students who came to buy forms belonged to underprivileged background because of which their access to technology was limited.

“A large section of the students who come to buy forms from the counter are unaware of the technological advancements that DU has achieved. They do not know how to navigate around the OMR forms online and hence resort to paper forms. Some of these students do not even have access to computers because of which they cannot fill it online. But we do try and convince them to fill the form online,” said a senior DU official, requesting anonymity.

Help desks set up by various student groups in the varsity claimed that efforts had been made to spread awareness among students to switch over to filling forms online.

However, a lot still remained to be done to inform students about the very existence of the online process, they claimed.

“We try and spread awareness about the online system through social media. Our volunteers also speak to students about the system and urge them to fill the form online so that they don’t have to brave the heat and travel all the way to the university. But there seems to be some information gap that needs to be filled through more seminars and awareness campaigns,” said Arun Hooda, president, Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU).