RAJKOT: Vaccine hesitancy is proving to be a big hindrance for Covid vaccination drive in rural areas.
With almost 70% of colleges affiliated to it coming from these areas, the Saurashtra University is mulling awarding 5-10 internal marks to its students for taking both the shots of the Covid vaccine.
The SU is going to discuss this idea in the upcoming syndicate meeting scheduled to be held around June 20.
The varsity plans to not only motivate its students to take jab but also ask them to convince their family members and other people living in their locality to take the shot.
If a decision regarding this gets approved in the syndicate meeting, around 2.25 lakh students of the varsity will benefit from the move.
Vijay Desani, pro vice chancellor of SU, confirmed the move.
“Students get 30 internal marks based on extracurricular activities, sports activities and regular attendance.
This year, because of Covid, attending the online classes was not mandatory as students in rural areas faced network problems.
We can use that quota of marks and award it to students who have taken both the shots of the vaccine,” Desani said.
There are 230 colleges affiliated with the SU of which almost 70%, barring those in Rajkot and Jamangar, are in rural areas.
The SU is also working on motivating colleges to get their students vaccinated.
The varsity is planning to award an appreciation certificate for the first 11 colleges whose 90% students have got both the shots of the Covid vaccine.
The SU has asked principals of the colleges to put the students’ vaccination data in the Whatsapp group created for the information exchange between varsity and colleges.
A few days ago, Desani circulated a video among all the principals and head of departments asking them to motivate as many students as possible to take the vaccine.