Too few hostel rooms, IIM-S students leave

SAMBALPUR: Some students of the Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur (IIM-S) have left the institute as they could not get hostel rooms, an official said Monday.

The classes for the fourth batch of the IIM-S commenced on July 30 this year. There were 111 students when the classes started but now the number of students has decreased to 99 as the institute was not able to provide hostel rooms to some students, IIM(S) director Mahadeo Jaiswal said.

The IIM-S is functioning from the premises of the Sambalpur University as it does not have a permanent campus of its own.

Jaiswal said “the state government had allotted three hostels for the students of IIM-S in the Sambalpur University campus. However, when we entered into MOU with the university authorities they said they could provide only two hostels... they were supposed to provide us two hostels by July. But the University provided one hostel and half of another hostel, forcing many IIM-S students to stay in dormitory.”

The director said till last month the Sambalpur University authorities said they would pro- vide rooms in the hostel to the students of the IIM-S in September. But now they are “refusing”.

He said, around 15 IIM-S students are still staying in the dormitory. The director expressed apprehension that they could also leave the institution, he said.

Vice-chancellor of Sambalpur University, Deepak Behera, however, said that he was ignorant about the incident.

“We have provided them a hostel and half of another hostel building, where 70 students of the university are also staying. A new hostel is being constructed on the premises... We would shift the students of the university to the new hostel only after we get possession of the new hostel... The Public Works Department should have handed over the building before the academic session began. But the PWD is yet hand it to us.” Behera said he has discussed the matter with the district collector and the matter will be sorted out.

The permanent campus of the IIM-S will be constructed at Basantpur, on the outskirts of Sambalpur city and the Union cabinet approved ₹401 crore for it, officials added.