| It is a rush time for the admission in the Delhi | | | | college principals money is indeed the prime concern |
| University and there is an equal rush to hit the high | | | | for the shortage of accommodation. “Finance is |
| cut off marks and the increasing number of students | | | | the major problem and there is always scarcity of |
| with the every passing year. Once the student gets | | | | that. It is not just hostel facility which we lack but |
| over with the struggle of getting into a college | | | | unavailability of gym, conference hall and library |
| another road of hurdles begins. A look out for a | | | | buildings is also what is equally essential,” said |
| affordable, secure and hustle free accommodation | | | | Ramesh Sharma, Principal of Moti Lal Nehru college. |
| becomes another challenge for the students to | | | | The process of getting a hostel passed is also hectic. |
| tackle. It is indeed an irony that one of the country's | | | | Proposal for building a hostel is to be placed before |
| most prestigious and favoured institution is starved | | | | staff council. After getting it passed from here, it is |
| of hostel facilities. As a whole, Delhi University is the | | | | put up at the governing body and later building |
| conclave of 82 colleges with various types of | | | | committee addresses it. Then the proposed map is |
| courses at under graduate and post graduate levels | | | | sent to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi |
| but it has only 14 hostels available for PG and less | | | | government. |
| than 10 for UG students, with a maximum of 250 | | | | Finally the proposal reaches University Grants |
| head count capacity. It clearly states the pathetic | | | | Commission (UGC) for grants. It is a very long |
| situation of students coming for the admission from | | | | procedure and takes too of much time and effort as |
| various corners of the country. It is a fact that | | | | Ramesh Sharma accepted, “Filing process is too |
| around 50 per cent of the students are from out | | | | hectic and long to get the building cleared for |
| side Delhi. | | | | construction.” Bhim Sen Singh, Principal of Kirori |
| Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College(ARSD) has more | | | | Mal College reiterated this view. “ We have sent |
| than 800 seats for BA (Pass) course but there is not | | | | the map for a hostel to MCD but we are still awaiting |
| even a single accommodation available. Then why is | | | | for the clearance. Without that we can't start the |
| ARSD still a favorite college for students? According | | | | construction which was very necessary for |
| to the Principal of the college Kavita Bhatia, it is | | | | us.”ARSD college has ample space and money to |
| simply because paying guest facilities are available at | | | | provide a 'decent' hostel. “We don't have |
| nearby locality like Satya Niketan, Moti Bagh, | | | | problem of funding for hostel but MCD is producing |
| Nanakpura. But at the same time there is an | | | | hurdles as the civic body has to pass the outlay plan |
| availability of paying guest facility but at unusual high | | | | for any building to be constructed,” said Kavita |
| cost. It varies anywhere between Rs 3500- 4500 for | | | | Bhatia, Principal, ARSD college. Civic institutions like |
| a room excluding water and electricity. For food, | | | | MCD and CPWD make thing worst by demanding |
| students have to pay around 2000 rupees additional | | | | various clearances. Some times colleges have to pay |
| per month. The students become vulnerable as they | | | | taxes at commercial rates to these civic bodies. |
| prefer to stay near to college thus are forced to pay | | | | UGC, the prime governing body for central |
| high rents, which become a burden for middle class | | | | universities, the allocation of funds particularly for |
| families to bear. | | | | hostels is facing a shortage. “The hostels are on |
| “It is a grave cause of concern for us. I am a | | | | our priority list, especially for women. We are short |
| small businessman. But good education for my child is | | | | of money but trying our best to overcome this |
| my prime target as there are no good colleges in my | | | | genuine necessity. The hostels could be made with |
| town,” Hukumchand accompanying his son Piyush | | | | lesser number of rooms. At present, we give 25 lakh |
| from Purnia, Bihar said. Private accommodations are | | | | rupees for a hostel but we will increase it up to 2 |
| generally not very safe from the security point of | | | | crore rupees,” said Sukhdeo Thorat, chairman, |
| view, especially for girls. Many incidents of | | | | UGC. Cases are different for different colleges |
| molestation and eve-teasing have come in light | | | | because they are being governed by different |
| according to the police authorities of adjoining areas | | | | administrative setups and structures. Take the case |
| of colleges. “We feel unsafe as we are away | | | | of Moti Lal Nehru college which gets 95 per cent of |
| from our home town and family. Generally we return | | | | its funding from UGC and rest from Delhi |
| at our room before 7 pm,” said Jhanvi Singh who | | | | government. Thus, it has to accommodate these |
| stays at Hudson Lane. Mukhrajee Nagar, Hudson Lane | | | | two different institutions at different levels. Like if |
| and Nehru Vihar are much favoured locations for | | | | the college gets grants from UGC even then the |
| students studying in North Campus. Though, some | | | | Delhi government may produce any unwanted |
| landlords have made special arrangements for girls | | | | objection leaving the project in jeopardy. Colleges are |
| but one can't fully rely on them. Living conditions do | | | | not allowed to take fundings from outside or by |
| not support the cordial atmosphere required for | | | | innovating other sources for necessary money which |
| studies. | | | | could have facilitated the problem. But college like |
| In south Delhi, Lady Sri Ram is the only women | | | | Venkateswara which is run by rich trusts, may not |
| college, that has hostel facility for UG course, but | | | | face similar problem. |
| strictly on the basis of the merit. And if one does not | | | | As the accommodation problem is not new and the |
| fall in the merit list then the person is out of the | | | | solution too appears to be far from reach, but it |
| accommodation list as well, this is again because the | | | | should be on the priority list not only for colleges and |
| hostel facility is not directly proportionate to the | | | | UGC but also for concerned civic authorities. Being |
| number of students enrolled with the college. | | | | the national capital and having four central universities |
| Venkateswara college is adding a hostel this time and | | | | in its fold, Delhi is bound to attract large number of |
| it is expected to be functional by August 2007. | | | | students in the coming years and DU is going to be |
| “The problem is multi-dimensional. Along with | | | | the centre of attraction for them. Therefore, solving |
| administrative barriers, colleges have to face financial | | | | it sooner than later would be a good move in the |
| shortages or funding for this and unavailability of land | | | | way to provide basic facility for the students for |
| is another important issue,” said Jogesh Chadha, | | | | their bright future. |
| Deputy Dean of Students Welfare. According to the | | | | |