Women-centric demands take centre stage in DUSU elections

After five years, women are once again contesting the post of president in the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections and their presence is already reshaping the tone of the campaign.

What was once confined to routine manifesto promises — safer campuses, more hostels, menstrual leave, and affordable sanitary products — has now become central to rallies and debates. The pressing question is whether these long-neglected demands will finally translate into tangible change or fade away once the votes are counted.

For years, issues such as campus safety, women’s hostels, menstrual leave, and sanitary napkins have featured in manifestos, but rarely led to lasting improvements. With women candidates now leading the charge, many believe the political pressure to act on these promises will be harder to ignore.

“Every election season, we hear about safer campuses and more hostels, but once the polls are over, those points vanish,” said Megha Sharma of Miranda House. “This time, with women contesting at the top, I feel there will be more accountability,” she added.

Among the most urgent demands is campus safety. Students continue to highlight poorly lit stretches in both North and South Campus, isolated areas near hostels, and the need for round-the-clock patrolling. “Walking back from rehearsals late in the evening is always nerve-racking,” said Ritika Chauhan of Ramjas College. “I believe women candidates will push harder for change.”

The lack of gender-sensitive infrastructure is another pressing concern. The shortage of women’s hostels affects students from outside Delhi, many of whom are forced into costly and insecure paying-guest (PG) accommodations. “For a university of DU’s size, the number of women’s hostels is shockingly low. Many of my classmates from smaller towns end up in PGs that don’t even have basic security,” said Aastha Gupta of Ramjas College. “It’s time this issue moves beyond slogans.”

Menstrual health has also emerged as a strong campaign theme. Several candidates are promising 2–3 days of menstrual leave each month, along with sanitary product vending machines and dispensers in every college and hostel. “Menstrual leave and access to pads shouldn’t be election points anymore—it should already be a policy,” said Simran Kaur of Daulat Ram College. Mental health services are likewise being pushed as vital for building a more inclusive campus environment.

While many students remain cautious, the presence of women candidates itself is being seen as a breakthrough. “In the past, our concerns were mentioned only at the end of manifestos, almost as an afterthought,” said Neha Yadav from Kirori Mal College. “Now, they are at the center of campaign speeches. That shift itself is meaningful,” she added.

Campaign rallies across North and South Campus reflect this change. Alongside the usual slogans on fees and infrastructure, banners and speeches now highlight women’s safety and menstrual health—issues that were often sidelined in previous years. For many students, this is the first time they feel their daily realities are shaping the political discourse at DU.