In its first initiative, the Delhi University has decided to open hostels exclusive for students and faculty hailing from the north-eastern states to relief them from the difficulties of finding a private accommodation. Also, this has been done to provide safety and security to these students.
The Delhi University has only 17 hostels with a capacity of 3,215, and one inside the campus with a capacity of 654, for undergraduate course students. Now, varsity is adding few more seats to facilitate outsider students.
Meanwhile, the much-awaited hostel for northeastern states at Kalindi College tops the list. This northeastern women hostel will be the first off campus college of the varsity to have this facility.
Every year, more than 30,000 students apply for a hostel but only a few manage to get through leaving rest in the lurch. A double storied 250 bedded hostel meant for the girl students belonging to the northeastern states is opening in this session, said officials.
"Realising the security and safety concerns of the students from the northeast, we have decided to open a separate hostel for them so that they do not have to hunt for accommodation outside," said a senior official at Kalindi College.
The hostel was expected to be operational from the 2016 session but due to some issues, it is opening the hostel in the 2017 session. While it is meant exclusively for students and teachers from the northeast, the rooms remaining vacant would be available to other students, added the officials.
Thousands of students have enrolled in various undergraduate courses offered by the women's college. There is no other hostel available on campus for the students yet.
"The fee would be subsidised so that the students can avail the facilities at much cheaper rate than private accommodations. There will also be a facility for the guests to stay on campus when they are visiting the students," the official said.
For the estimated 1.8 lakh students enrolled with DU, altogether there are only about 9,000 seats available in its hostels for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Moreover, the Deen Dayal Upadhayay College has moved into a sprawling campus spread over 11.5 acres this year, putting on offer facilities and more space. This admission season, brand new classes and freshly painted buildings are all set to welcome the batch of 2017 applicants.
DDU College principal, SK Garg said that it's been only eight months since the college moved to the new campus. "But now, with more space and eco- friendly campus, we have hostel blocks and accommodation for the faculty. Interestingly, the campus has in-house sewage treatment plant and a rainwater harvesting system. Our solar panels are also being installed," added Garg.
IP College for Women is also adding 100 more seats to provide more accommodation to its female students. It has two hostels, namely I.P. Hostel and K.G. Hostel and provides all the facilities to its students. Moreover, the hostel has also reserved some seats for northeastern students.