WHAT PRINCIPALS SAY

■ Space is the biggest issue when it comes to building hostels in Delhi University. It took us quite a lot of time to identify a place for a girls' hostel but we finally managed. Many others are facing a similar problem, I am sure. I think a hostel should be made mandatory in all new buildings that come up even if colleges have to offer a couple of courses less. I meet several students, especially women, who have to forgo admission in the college because we don't have a girls' hostel. Hostels are important not only for those students who come from outside Delhi but also for those who live in Delhincr, but at a considerable distance from their college. A student who lives in Gurgaon and studies in North Campus will be very stressed out. The semester system is very demanding, students have to thrive in a very competitive environment. The situation is worse for students from the northeastern states, as finding safe accommodation is an additional problem they have to face. ■ There was a time when a majority of students who studied in DU colleges were from Delhi but now, in our college, at least 60 per cent of the students are from outside Delhi. Hostel accommodation is a big issue and most colleges don't even have a hostel. We recently built a girls' hostel and faced many problems which are common to others in North Campus, including getting permissions from several authorities, finance, getting permission to build in buildings with a heritage tag and meeting running costs. The most important thing that is needed is a single-window clearance system for permissions to build hostel complexes. ■ Since the clause that asks the university to provide residence to all students is part of the Delhi University Act, it is important for the top-most authorities to pay heed to the problem. We need to ask what are the efforts being made by the university to tackle the problem? What are the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the University Grants Commission doing? As of now, a large number of students are living in PG accommodations and on rent. Till the university cannot make arrangements for them, the least it can do is regulate the rent in areas around colleges and the university. Tell students where they can get safe accommodation and good food. A dean especially looking into these matters should be appointed. Someone will have to adopt this issue as their baby to make sure things move in the right direction.