DCW seeks HRD ministry help over ‘high’ hostel fee

Alleging that the colleges in Delhi are charging “high” hostel fee and imposing “discriminatory” rules for the girls, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday sought Union HRD minister Prakash Javadekar’s intervention in the matter.

The DCW chief, Swati Jaihind, in a letter to the minister claimed “severe apathy” exists in the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the response from its officiating chairman was “extremely discouraging”.

She urged Mr Javadekar to expedite the selection process for a regular chief for the education body so that pending issues can be resolved.

The DCW said that it has received a representation from a student advocacy group, following which it had sent communications to various universities, colleges, and institutes in Delhi to assess reasons for “discriminatory hostel rules and high fee for girls”. The Commission said it has received detailed responses.

Many institutions still

Over five institutions have informed the commission that due to various issues pending with UGC... they are unable to construct hostels for girls. — Swati Jaihind, DCW chief

do not have hostel facilities for girls, forcing them to seek private accommodation outside the college campus, Ms Jaihind claimed.

“Over five institutions have informed the commission that due to various issues pending with UGC pertaining to release of due grant, they are unable to construct hostels for girls or ensure non-discriminatory fee,” she said in her letter.

Ms Jaihind claimed that several communications had been sent to the UGC seeking intervention on the requests of different institutions since February 2017. “However, no response whatsoever, till date, has been received,” she said.