Gratitude

Dear all,
Thank you for believing in me and voting for me. I promise to work towards the issues raised in my manifesto. I am also thankful to UDA for extending their support and help to me. 

Congratulations Sreelakshmi Bahuleyan! I am looking forward to work with you to make this campus a gender sensitive one!

My facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mounikagscash) and blog will remain active. Please feel free to voice your opinions and thoughts here. You can also contact me on 7799 330 744 or mail me at mounikapellur@gmail.com. 

Thank you.

My Manifesto

I, Mounika Pellur (IMA Social Sciences) am contesting as an independent candidate for the position of GSCASH representative from the College for Integrated Studies. I am supported by Gender Doodles - a group of people who work for gender equality and against sexual harassment on campus. The UDA panel has expressed its solidarity with my candidature.

The GSCASH representative post has often been a nominal affair. 'Elected' representatives have hardly done anything to make the campus a gender sensitive space. This has to change. Students Union elections has to be separated from GSCASH elections.

I believe that it is possible to transform this campus into a space that is friendly and safe for all genders. It is important that we challenge the dominant mindset on campus – that women need to be protected, and that safety can be achieved only through restriction. We need to make the campus safe without compromising on freedom. We also need to move away from traditional gender stereotypes, and towards embracing gender and sexual multiplicities.

I will work for the following on campus through GSCASH, once elected-


Sensitising campus community on sexual harassment and gender equality

1. Gender sensitivity training for staff, faculty, security
2. Spreading awareness to visitors and amongst staff – especially contract workers - about their rights
3. A different approach to security – ensuring safety without moral policing
4. Opening up segregated spaces, and creating desegregated places, so that students can meet without gender biases
5. Encouraging and initiating student activities at night, so that there are more people around and thus making it safer (for example, have better night canteens to promote a healthy night culture)
6. Having more activities to open up dialogues concerning sexual harassment
7. Forming informal student support groups to spread awareness about sexual harassment and to make GSCASH more approachable


CASH activities, constitution, cases

1. Introducing transparency with regard to the administration taking actions based on GSCASH rulings
2. Amending the GSCASH constitution – to review reservation policy, and to hold independent elections
3. Holding a by-election for electing a research scholar GSCASH representative (currently unfilled)
4. Conducting a survey on campus to assess sexual harassment and gender issues
5. Strengthening departmental GSCASH committees
6. Conducting feedback sessions with the university community


I will, once elected, be approachable at all times.

Why vote for me?

Student representation on GSCASH has been very passive. They have neither attended most GSCASH meetings, nor have they been approachable on campus. Many students who were being sexually harassed were unsure of even approaching GSCASH.

Security on campus works on the ideology of moral policing. As demonstrated recently, they much sooner advice us to remain in our rooms than make the campus safe for us. The administration takes active effort in segregating more and more spaces, in the name of safety. More segregation only leads to more misunderstanding, which leads to a greater rift between the different genders. More the rift and misunderstanding, more the stereotyping, objectification, and violence. Moreover, the intersections of caste and class in gender politics are not dealt with.

GSCASH has been making small strides into making our campus a more liberal space. However, their efforts mostly go unnoticed. Most people are not aware of their rights, and GSCASH has not done much in this regard.


I hope to work towards changing all this.

To begin with, I will be approachable and available on campus. Anyone, especially students, can come to me for any help regarding GSCASH. Whether it is to have a talk, or to ease apprehensions, or if you want to file a complaint, or if you have some suggestions or feedback, I will always be available. It is often that a victim of sexual harassment feels guilty, that s/he is at fault, and feels apprehensive about filing a complaint. It helps to talk to someone if you are feeling that way. Ideally, that person should be able to help you see things clearly, and guide you towards the next step. As the student representative, I will be open and approachable.

You can read my manifesto on the changes I suggest to address the issues I have written about above.

My efforts are supported by Gender Doodles - an informal group which has been working on campus to spread awareness about sexual harassment and gender issues. They have been involved in several gender sensitisation events on campus, and have worked with GSCASH to help organise some of their events. Members of this group have ties with like minded people on campus, and other organisations which work for gender equality.

Moreover, the UDA coalition stands in solidarity with my candidature.

Feel free to comment here, or on my Facebook page to know more about what I stand for and what I plan to do if elected.


Vote for me, and we can work towards making our campus a more liberal and gender friendly space!

Clarification regarding my candidature

Hello,

I'm being asked very often about the independent status of my candidature, so I'm posting a clarification here.

I am an independent candidate contesting for the post of GSCASH Student Representative from CIS.

I am supported by a group on campus that works for gender equality, called Gender Doodles. They have promised to work with me on issues regarding gender and sexuality on campus, and my stands GSCASH with regard to policy. The UDA coalition stands in solidarity with my candidature. They approved of my manifesto, and they have agreed to support me through the election. This is why my name is on their handouts, and why I have been campaigning with the UDA.

If elected, I welcome constructive suggestions and feedback from everyone, and I would very much appreciate such engagement. But the stands I take on GSCASH policy and cases will not be skewed in anyone's favour. (I hope that I do not have to elaborate that the cases are confidential and I will not be discussing those with anyone)

I hope that this clarifies matters. If you have any doubts, please feel free to ask. Thank you.

Clarification regarding GSCASH elections and who can vote for me

Hello all,

The Chairperson of the Election Commission clarified today that the GSCASH student representatives do not form a part of the Student's Union, though the election for GSCASH is conducted alongside the Students' Union election. Consequently, he also clarified that only the students whom the candidate represents will be privileged to vote for the candidate. That is, the only students of the College of Integrated Studies can vote for me.

I will continue campaigning throughout campus, however, because I would like your support, and if I win, I will need your support.

Please do read my manifesto. If you support the stands I have taken, please do extend your support, and if you are a student of CIS, do vote for me on 25th September.

If you have any questions or clarifications, or suggestions or criticism, I would love to hear and engage with them.

Thank you!

Mounika on Bol Hyd 90.4!

Hi!
If anyone is following this blog, Mounika is on Radio Bol Hyd right now (from 5-6pm, 22nd September). Tune in now to 90.4FM.