No Jeans In College Campus - Bhopal

BHOPAL: If you thought getting into college meant freedom from uniform, think again. Around 1,800 students of the two government-run, autonomous girls' colleges of the city are faced with the prospect of coming to classes in uniform, at least four days a week. This is likely to begin from January 1 next year. The two colleges are Maharani Laxmi Bai College and Sarojini Naidu Girls' PG College.

While Maharani Laxmi Bai College has already decided to go ahead with the dress code on its campus, Sarojini Naidu College administration is still debating over the implementation. The girls will have to wear grey kameez while the colour of the salwar is yet to be decided. They will be allowed to attend college in clothes of their choice only on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The decision to enforce dress code comes in the face of stiff opposition from students, especially the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Sarojini Naidu College had implemented a dress code last year but rolled back the decision after protests on campus. Maharani Laxmi Bai College authorities, however, say it was the students' who wanted a dress code on campus. "Students' union representatives approached me to implement a dress code for all students," said Maharani Laxmi Bai College principal Manjula Sharma."The decision was taken with a view to do away with inequality among students coming from rich and poor backgrounds," said Neelima Verma, advisor to the college students' union. Not many students, however, are buying this. "I have not heard of a dress code for college students anywhere in the country. There are already so many restrictions placed on students. The dress code will limit our choice further," said Shabana, a student of Maharani Laxmi Bai College.

"We are against forced imposition of a dress code. It should happen voluntarily. If students are mature enough to elect a government, they can choose what dress they wish to wear,'' said ABVP state co-ordinator Bharti Kumhare.Students do not like the choice of colour either. "The colour chosen for us, will make us look like school children," said Shabana."The deicision will pinch us in the pocket. Dress code would mean investing getting them made. Will college authorities bear the cost?" said Ruchi Mehta, Sarojini Naidu College."We had opposed a similar move last year in our college. We will oppose the move to have a dress code if they try to implement it again," said another student of Sarojini Naidu College, under condition of anonymity.

College authorities wanted to impose the dress code but we did not accept it. We will oppose if they try to implement the dress code in the future," a student of Sarojini Naidu College said, on the condition of anonymity."Students did not agree to the dress code, which forced us to drop the idea last year. The decision is in the pipeline. We will talk to the students to take their view before applying the dress code in the college," said Sarojini Naidu College principal Shobhna Maroo.