No Covid-19 vaccine, no train travel: Students under 18 stay at home

A file picture of SIES College classrooms being cleaned in February when colleges were to reopen. Pic/Suresh Karkera

It has been a week since schools in the city reopened from Stds VIII to XII. But for students at many junior colleges in the city, it is still study from home, due to travel constraints. In a city like Mumbai, many students have opted for colleges far from their residences. Local trains have been a saviour for them just like for lakhs of Mumbaikars. But the vaccine against Covid-19 is not yet available for those under 18 years and only fully vaccinated people are allowed on local trains. These students are under 18 years of age. Hence some junior colleges have even put their reopening on hold.

"Many of us were looking forward to starting offline college. But for many of us how to travel to college is a big question. I stay closer to the college but I have many friends who come from really far off places and are seriously looking forward to joining," said Ayush Tiwari, a Std XII student from K J Somaiya College in Vidyavihar. Tiwari stays at the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd link road.

Parents worried

Parents are also not comfortable sending their children to far off colleges in the absence of train travel. "My daughter's college is to start from Monday but we have no clue of how to ensure safe travel. They are not allowing these children on local trains as they haven't been vaccinated, but do they mean there is no Covid scare on crowded buses?"questioned Mansi Pathare, a resident of Parel whose daughter studies at Matunga's D G Ruparel College. The family is now looking at taking on the responsibility of dropping and picking her up from college.

Only 50 per cent attendance

Some junior colleges students were looking forward to beginning offline classes but the train issue troubles many. Dr Sangita Shrivastava, principal of T P Bhatia College, Kandivli said, "When we asked for parents' consent, we were happy to receive affirmative responses from over 90 per cent of them. But when the day actually arrived, we saw around 50 per cent students reporting to college. Others raised the local trains issue. Only those students who do not have adequate facilities at home are coming to college. Most others have reasoned that it is better to stay at home than travel for two hours to reach college." The story is same at Bandra's Chetna College where the administration received complete consent but on the day of reopening only 50 per cent students attended. "Only those living nearby came for offline classes. Many others are continuing online," said Vice Principal Girish Salve. "When the government took the decision, all these things should have been considered, especially in case of Mumbai, it is not only junior colleges but many schools have students coming from far off places and travelling on local trains," said Prasad Tulaskar a parent.

The H R College in Churchgate received a huge positive response when they asked for consent. "But when the day arrived, teachers started getting calls from students with travel woes. They said they would have to spend hours together travelling if not allowed to board local trains. We instead asked them to continue online from home. So our teachers come to college and take online classes," said Dr Pooja Ramchandani, principal of the college. At Matunga's Ramnivas Ruia Junior College, only science practicals are being held in batches. "It is better to wait and get some clarity on all grounds starting from how students are going to travel," said Dr Anushree Lokur, principal. Charni Road's Wilson college too has decided to wait and watch before reopening.