New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- A roof over the heads of 10,000 students is now on the Delhi government's agenda, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announcing a city-wide hostel expansion plan amid growing concerns over student accommodation. The announcement comes days after the Satya Niketan PG collapse, in which seven people were killed, putting the spotlight on the safety and living conditions of students living in private PGs.
CM Rekha Gupta said the proposed hostels would provide safe, affordable and convenient accommodation to students coming to Delhi from different parts of the country for higher education. The facilities will cater to both male and female students and will be developed through various government departments, with land to be acquired wherever necessary.
"Delhi is not only the national capital but also a major education hub. A large number of young people come to Delhi from different states to pursue higher education. After securing admission to colleges and universities, one of the biggest challenges they face is arranging safe and affordable accommodation," Gupta said.
Gupta said "the government would work towards ensuring hostel facilities for students enrolled in colleges and universities across Delhi, and not restrict the initiative to institutions run by the Delhi government. A survey of colleges with adequate land or space for hostel construction will also be undertaken."
Hostels will also be developed through the public-private partnership (PPP) model to accelerate construction and ensure that facilities are properly maintained. The chief minister said the government's responsibility would extend beyond construction to the safety, comfort and basic needs of students. "Government's responsibility will not end with the construction of hostels. It will also ensure that students' safety, comfort and essential needs are taken care of," she said. Hostel projects are already under way or have been proposed at institutions including Ambedkar University, Dhirpur, G B Pant Engineering College and Polytechnic, Indira Gandhi Hospital and Medical College, and Delhi Sports University.
The Health Department, Higher Education Department and Women and Child Development Department, among others, will be involved in the initiative. Gupta said inter-departmental meetings were being held, suitable locations were being identified and a draft policy covering hostel facilities and student requirements was being prepared. The chief minister said the objective was to ensure that students and their families did not have to compromise on safety while pursuing education in Delhi.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.