Editor,
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) was once known for sacrifice, unity, and strong student voices. Today, it is facing a serious problem. What used to be a simple democratic process has slowly turned into an expensive and money-driven system.
Earlier, students travelled long distances by bus or truck to attend AAPSU elections. They stayed in school buildings, hostels, or community halls. Food and shelter were simple, but students were united and focused on collective goals. Comfort was never a priority.
Now, times have changed. Many students expect to travel in SUVs, stay in good hotels, and enjoy personal comfort. All these expenses are mostly paid by election candidates. As a result, the AAPSU elections have become costly, and leadership is slowly limited to those who can afford it.
Conference committees have also contributed to this problem. They collect large amounts of money from politicians, businessmen, and government officials in the name of conferences. However, they often fail to provide basic food and lodging for delegates. This extra burden is quietly passed on to candidates, increasing election expenses even more.
Another concern is the high nomination fees charged by the election commission. Such high fees are unnecessary and discourage capable but poor students from contesting elections. Instead of strengthening democracy, this practice weakens it.
A worrying trend is the behaviour of students from top academic institutions. Some of them demand high payments for their support, advice, or influence. Student leadership is slowly becoming a business, not a service.
Ironically, many of those who take money during elections later criticise elected leaders for being ineffective. They ignore the fact that many leaders start their term under heavy financial pressure, after borrowing money or taking help from relatives to contest elections.
Although people often talk about reforms, real change is difficult. Presidents and general secretaries could pass resolutions to stop corruption, but most leaders are already trapped by debts from their election campaigns. This makes it hard for them to challenge the same system that brought them to power.
The problems of the AAPSU are not caused by one or two individuals. They are the result of a system that has slowly accepted money and luxury as normal. What the AAPSU needs now is honest self-reflection, financial transparency, and a return to the original values of simplicity, unity, and service.
The future question is clear: will the AAPSU remain a money-driven organisation, or will students come together to restore its true spirit?
Lota Singhi