<p>With an increase in footfall at Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) every day for undergraduate admissions, the school has tightened security to manage crowd in order to avoid any mishap. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Four law students, who are working as volunteers, have planned all the security arrangements this year.<br /><br />“Now that the regular colleges have started their sessions, the crowd here has doubled this month. Every day we are witnessing students between 4,000 to 8,000 here. The highest footfall was seen on July 13, a week before the DU’s regular colleges started,” said one of the volunteers.<br /><br />According to SOL’s executive director H C Pokhriyal, the crowd management is a big relief. “We already have finished 60,000 admissions so far. And in the next few days, another 60,000 admissions are expected to get over. The admission time here has always been chaotic every year,” said Pokhriyal.<br /><br />The volunteers, who have been slowly including security elements ever since the admission process began from June 1, have stepped up security arrangements.<br /><br />“July 30-31 will be the most crowded days. We are expecting a footfall of 20,000 students in a day. In June we didn’t make diversions of entry and exit points, which has become necessary now considering the amount of students and parents flocking the campus everyday,” added the volunteer.<br /><br />Twelve CCTV cameras have been installed recently near all the sale and submission windows and other strategic points. <br /><br />“We recently did a fire drill where a fire tender entered the SOL campus. We realised that unsystematic parking of vehicles was hampering its movements and hence it was changed. Then a mentally disturbed man was seen to be sitting near the parking lot every day inside the campus. He was sent to a hospital in Shahdara,” he said.<br /><br />The university FM after specific intervals has been set up to announce admission details. “After the announcement, they play songs to calm down the students standing in long queues in this heat,” added the volunteer.<br /><br />To prevent overcrowding, an inquiry counter has been set up outside the campus. <br />“This is very convenient. Otherwise, half the time we are dazed because there are no inquiry counters,” said a student. <br /><br />A first-aid centre has also been put in place. “The doctors are also volunteers. There are around over 40 volunteers working here, some assisting students in filling forms, others helping in crowd control,” said another volunteer. <br /><br />“There are around 15 volunteer security personnels with walkie-talkies who are constantly checking the crowd. A PCR van is stationed outside the SOL,” volunteer added.<br /><br />The school has also arranged an ambulance and a fire tender for July 30 and 31 as the crowd is expected to be huge. “Many poor students are expected to come here for admissions on the last two days. They would want to save Rs 200 as late fee,” the volunteer said.<br /><br /></p>
<p>With an increase in footfall at Delhi University’s School of Open Learning (SOL) every day for undergraduate admissions, the school has tightened security to manage crowd in order to avoid any mishap. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Four law students, who are working as volunteers, have planned all the security arrangements this year.<br /><br />“Now that the regular colleges have started their sessions, the crowd here has doubled this month. Every day we are witnessing students between 4,000 to 8,000 here. The highest footfall was seen on July 13, a week before the DU’s regular colleges started,” said one of the volunteers.<br /><br />According to SOL’s executive director H C Pokhriyal, the crowd management is a big relief. “We already have finished 60,000 admissions so far. And in the next few days, another 60,000 admissions are expected to get over. The admission time here has always been chaotic every year,” said Pokhriyal.<br /><br />The volunteers, who have been slowly including security elements ever since the admission process began from June 1, have stepped up security arrangements.<br /><br />“July 30-31 will be the most crowded days. We are expecting a footfall of 20,000 students in a day. In June we didn’t make diversions of entry and exit points, which has become necessary now considering the amount of students and parents flocking the campus everyday,” added the volunteer.<br /><br />Twelve CCTV cameras have been installed recently near all the sale and submission windows and other strategic points. <br /><br />“We recently did a fire drill where a fire tender entered the SOL campus. We realised that unsystematic parking of vehicles was hampering its movements and hence it was changed. Then a mentally disturbed man was seen to be sitting near the parking lot every day inside the campus. He was sent to a hospital in Shahdara,” he said.<br /><br />The university FM after specific intervals has been set up to announce admission details. “After the announcement, they play songs to calm down the students standing in long queues in this heat,” added the volunteer.<br /><br />To prevent overcrowding, an inquiry counter has been set up outside the campus. <br />“This is very convenient. Otherwise, half the time we are dazed because there are no inquiry counters,” said a student. <br /><br />A first-aid centre has also been put in place. “The doctors are also volunteers. There are around over 40 volunteers working here, some assisting students in filling forms, others helping in crowd control,” said another volunteer. <br /><br />“There are around 15 volunteer security personnels with walkie-talkies who are constantly checking the crowd. A PCR van is stationed outside the SOL,” volunteer added.<br /><br />The school has also arranged an ambulance and a fire tender for July 30 and 31 as the crowd is expected to be huge. “Many poor students are expected to come here for admissions on the last two days. They would want to save Rs 200 as late fee,” the volunteer said.<br /><br /></p>
