DU hostel students protest against curfew timings

New Delhi: The residents of the women's hostels of Delhi University have been sitting on a sit-in protest against the curfew timings and alleged discrimination at their hostels for the past ten days.

The students have said that there has been no formal communication from the administration about the situation. Students of five hostels have been on an indefinite sit-in in front of the main gate of the complex since February 27. Their main demand is relaxation of the 7:30 pm curfew imposed on the hostel residents.

The protests initially started as a response to comments a hostel official allegedly made about students preparing for a "hostel night".

They allegedly said the students' dresses were "very revealing" and that "a woman's body should be a mystery". The students' initial outrage at the comments has evolved into a charter of demands to put an end to the "discriminatory rule".

The students have said they are going to continue their protests until their demands are met. Students have pointed out that if they have a curfew timing, how will they have access to the library.

On February 29, the university provosts put out a notice extending the hostel curfew to 11 pm. Students, though happy with the decision said that the protests will continue until all of their demands are met. They demanded the abolition of the curfew all together because the UGC norms stated that there can be no discrimination between men and women students by calling it a safety issue.

Meanwhile, the girls in the UGHG hostel had complained, back in August about the quality of drinking water, inadequate water supply, poor quality of food, improper medical facilities and maintenance failures at the hostel. Students added that the reason for their protest is an amalgamation of many issues.

They have also alleged that protesting students have been harassed by the male guards, however, that has not stopped them from continuing their protest.