Students of Bengal varsities provide financial aid to casual workers amid lockdown
Students of the Presidency University have recentlygiven Rs 1,000 each to eight casual workers of the HinduHostel and a hawker while those of the Indian Institute ofEngineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur have givenRs 2,000 each to 35 canteen staff.
"This is a small contribution from us to help thesepeople who are in dire straits with virtually no earning dueto closure of the university.
"We know this amount is very little to provide themrelief but we want to tell them that we are always by theirside," Presidency University Students' Council PresidentMimosa Ghorai told on Wednesday.
The IIEST pupils have formed 'Quarantined ShibpurStudents' Collective' and raised the money this month for theinitiative, BTech student Saptadeepa Chowdhury said.
The balance amount of the total money raised for theinitiative has been used for buying rice, pulses, edible oil,soya beans and soap for them, she said.
"We are also providing financial aid to those runningcoffee shops, laundry and other similar establishments on thecampus," another student said.
The initiatives have been lauded by the facultymembers and netizens on social media.
"The students have shown how they can rise to theoccasion. We are proud of them," an IIEST faculty member said.
"Laal Selaam to Presidency University Students'Council for standing by Badam Kaku, Ananda Da and the messstaff of Hindu Hostel," a netizen commented on a Facebook postby a student on the initiative. SUSACD ACD