Starting this year, a group of Delhi University (DU) students — mostly from Bihar — have formed a forum to support and guide DU aspirants from the state and neighbouring areas.

For thousands of starry-eyed students from Bihar, the biggest dream, after completing schools or Intermediate-level education, is to secure a seat in a prestigious college under DU. However, many of them are a hassled lot at the time of admissions because of lack of proper knowledge and guidance.

Named Purvanchal Youth and Students’ Association (PYASA), the forum was launched a few weeks back with a view to help students from the region with the admission process, also counsel them on right college and courses and guide them on accommodation facilities.

“We felt that such a group was required to bring students from the region under one umbrella. Our aim is to make the admission process for students from the Purvanchal region as hassle-free as possible. We have started to reach out to people through the social media. In the coming days, as the admission procedure draws closer from June 5 and when the sale of forms begin, we will put up banners, distribute pamphlets and set up help desks at all colleges to guide those who need us,” said Ashok Bhagat, founder of the group who studies in Zakir Hussain College. He hails from Motihari.

He added that many students feel dejected when they do not get the subject of their first choice, without realising that they still have a chance of getting other equally good subjects. “During times like these that the guidance by the support group will come most handy,” he said.

Some DU professors and authorities have also been advising the group on ways to assist Bihari students. Though there is no exact data available on the number of students from the state in DU, estimates put it over 50 per cent.

“The idea is to keep everybody updated on every thing related to admissions and to guide students about options when they fail to get desired courses because of high cut-off marks. For example, many colleges have vocational courses on offer but students, particularly from rural Bihar, have no clue about these courses. We want to help them. I suffered a lot when I came for admission here so I want to help others,” said Shourya Roy from Purnea, who studies at Kirori Mal College and is a key member of the group.