New Delhi, July 29 (IANS): The Delhi University (DU) students' body provided a grievance redressal platform for the students in the first ever "Vidyarthi Panchayat" organised Monday.

Vidyarathi Panchayat was a platform where the students were given the opportunity to question authorities on campus affairs, and put forward their problems.

"This is a very important platform for the students to engage with the academic process of the university, as the ultimate ownership of the varsity lies with them," said Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for Human Resource Development who represented the ministry at the Panchayat.

Students talked about the problems they faced in the admission procedure under the new four-year undergraduate programme. There were also complaints about the semester system. Students also put forward requests to prevent the vigorous campaigning being done ahead of university elections.

Answering the students, DU Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh said: "We have taken steps and are trying to improve communications between the information centre and the different departments of the varsity."

The Vidyarathi Panchayat was organised by the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) and the National Students' Union of India (NSUI) as a part of the 'Lead your Campus' project being run all over the country.