Stay, safety top concerns for DU’s outstation applicants
ADMISSION This year, 43% of applicants to DU colleges were from outside Delhi
NEWDELHI: Delhi University (DU) is home for best minds not only from Delhi, but also those from all over the country.
This year, out of the 2,21,309 applications DU received, 1,24,626 applicants are from Delhi. This means that over 43% of the applicants are outstation students, who aspire to be part of the central university. Though most of these applicants are from neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, many come from southern, north-eastern and western states.
“Last year, out of the 57,739 students who were admitted to DU colleges, 28,731 students were from Delhi,” said Ashutosh Bhardwaj, officer on special duty, admissions. Over half of the students were from outside Delhi, he said.
Hindustan Times spoke to some outstation applicants aobut their major concerns while seeking admission at DU.
SAFETY
“Safety is a major concern that most parents have. Delhi’s image, especially for those who are not from the city, is that it is a dangerous place. We try to explain that as long as students stay close to the campus, there isn’t much to worry about. Especially at the North Campus, there are police officers, college security guards, and night watchmen around, making it safer,” said Rizwan PS, a final year BA (Hon) student at Hindu College, who comes from Kerala. He is the admin of a WhatsApp group initiated by a student organisation called Yuva Samiti, which helps outstation students, who may not be able to visit the campus or have access to relevant information clear doubts.
Some parents, however, added that the university’s reputation and the opportunities their kids will be afforded trumps such concerns.
“DU has an international reputation, and my aim is to provide my daughter with the best education. I have explained to her how she needs to take care of herself and how she will be responsible for her own safety. She needs to be aware of where she is going, with whom and at what time,” said Riju (name changed on request) from Kerala, whose daughter is seeking admission to an Economics programme at a DU college.
ACCOMMODATION
“Finding an accommodation was the most difficult task I faced. Hostels didn’t have enough beds and finding a paying guest (PG) accommodation that was safe was an exhausting job for my parents,” said Lolakshi Rajlakshmi, a Daulat Ram College student hailing from Mumbai.
“DU has maximum 8,000-9,000 hostel seats; fewer for girls,” said a DU official.
So, a lot of these outstation students rely on privately rented and sometimes expensive, PG facilities. In the South Campus, students may be able to find places that charge anywhere between ₹6,000 and ₹20,000 a month, based on whether they are provided an A/C, meals, and the number of people sharing the room. In the North Campus, it can cost between ₹4,000 and ₹30,000 a month.
FOOD, SOCIAL INTEGRATION
Many students fret over how they will adapt to a new city, the changed food habits, and meeting new people.
A DU official said Delhi has many outlets serving delicacies from most states, and some even have tiffin services.
“I was unaware about the areas when I first came to Delhi and got lost many times. Auto drivers sensed I am an outsider and tried charging more,” said Kamal Arora, a St Stephen’s student.
However, DU officials said these questions can be laid to rest. “It takes at least a month for even students coming from the city to adjust to a new college. People in Delhi can be very welcoming. Students adapt well and soon,” said a DU official who works with student welfare.