My name is Riya Poojary, and I am a student pursuing a Bachelor's in Accounting and Finance, along with the rigorous ACCA certification. My days start at 7:00 AM and often don't end until 9:00 PM, leaving me with little room to fulfill the volunteering hour requirements imposed by the NEP 2020. This policy mandates a minimum of 30 hours of community service for students to receive credits and advance to the next semester. While the intention behind encouraging volunteer work is commendable, the execution has been far from considerate, especially for students like me who are juggling demanding professional courses.

The crux of the issue lies with some colleges under Mumbai University. Instead of offering flexibility, these institutions are restricting students to fulfilling their volunteering hours only through college-affiliated organizations such as Rotaracts, libraries, and other departmental activities. Independent NGOs, which could provide more convenient and varied volunteering opportunities, are summarily dismissed as non-compliant with the credit requirements. This rigid approach not only limits our options but also imposes undue stress on students already bearing a heavy academic load.

Professional courses such as CA, ACCA, CMA, and CFA demand considerable dedication and time. Adding inflexible volunteering requirements on top of this makes it nearly impossible for students to meet academic and co-curricular commitments without sacrificing their mental and physical well-being. Many students like myself are threatened with the prospect of not passing due to inadequate CC hours—hours that we are more than willing to fulfill, given the flexibility to volunteer at independent NGOs, which fit better within our tight schedules.

This redundancy and lack of understanding from college administrations push students into a corner. We are not seeking exemption from volunteering but rather the autonomy to choose where we fulfill our hours in partnership with NGOs that suit our schedules, interests, and career objectives.

Moreover, independent NGOs often focus on diverse social issues and can benefit immensely from young, passionate volunteers. Granting students the freedom to volunteer with these NGOs aligns with the core goal of NEP 2020—to foster a sense of community service and responsibility.

We appeal to the education authorities and college administrations to revise the current implementation of the NEP 2020 volunteering requirement. Let us work together to create a more adaptable system that accommodates the diverse needs and commitments of students in professional courses.

This is a call for change, fair policy-making, and a more thoughtful approach to student welfare. Please sign this petition to support flexibility and fairness in our education system.