Commonwealth Games' latest casualty: 38,000 hostel students in New Delhi who have been asked to vacate rooms to accommodate those working for the mega event in October
Commonwealth Games' latest casualty: 38,000 hostel students in New Delhi who have been asked to vacate rooms to accommodate those working for the mega event in Octoberu00a0u00a0
Bikram Bora, a second year student of Delhi's Ramjas College, rubbished rumours that he will have to leave the college hostel once the Commonwealth Games (CWG) draw closer. Little did he imagine that he would join the long list of those who have been displaced by the Games.
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| WHERE IS EVERYBODY? The Mansarovar hostel in Delhi University wears a deserted look. PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN |
Bora is among the 38,000 odd-students living in hostels across the Capital who are forced to go accommodation-hunting and that too without any notice. For, their rooms will now double as lodges for those working for the October mega event. What's worse, they have to pay almost three times the hostel fee for a rented apartment.
Rent hikeAs news of students being asked to move out of hostels spread, landlords across the city did not hesitate to hike rates. That's not all, they are even demanding two months' rent in advance.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
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"The rent was not more than Rs 6,000 just a few days ago, but, after learning that students have to vacate hostels the rates have skyrocketed," said Bora, who is staying with three friends in a small two-room apartment and pays Rs 10,000 per month as rent. The hostel cost him Rs 2,000.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
With the rents pinching pockets of students, most of them cramp themselves into any flats that are available.u00a0u00a0
After almost a month of house-hunting, Aniket Mishra, a third year student from Hansraj College, found a place that he now shares with three others.u00a0 "Four of us adjust in a room which can barely accommodate two people.
We shell out Rs 8,000 for a small room, which, until a few months, ago was rented out for Rs 4,000. However, we consider ourselves lucky; we at least have a roof above our heads. There are hundreds of students who have not been able to find a flat. The situation is tragic," said Mishra.u00a0
Girl troubleWhile boys are facing trouble, the problems are compounded for girls who come to Delhi to study from far-flung states.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Ila Singh shares a house in Noida with seven more girls which is leased out for Rs 8,000.u00a0 "There are four tiny rooms in the house shared by us. However, many of my friends are struggling even to find a place."u00a0u00a0u00a0
According to students, girls are charged more rent than boys. "In some areas, a single room is available for Rs 8,000 for boys and Rs 10,000 for girls. These rooms do not have any toilet or bathroom attached," said a student.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0
Insecure tenantsBut even having an accommodation is not safe in Delhi any longer. Pravin Verma, an M.Phil student from the Delhi University, was kicked out of his rented apartment because the landlord found a tenant who was ready to pay twice the rent.u00a0
"One day my landlord asked me to pay a rent of Rs 12,000, which was absurd. When I tried to reason with him, he said there was a long queue of students who were ready shell out that amount," said Verma.
(With inputs from Shashank Shekhar)
| PROTEST |
| Students are not keeping mum and have decided to protest against colleges and universities. They have formed a group called University Community for Democracy to fight against hostels which have ousted them. However, S K Vij, dean, Students Welfare, Delhi University, remained unavailable for comment.
First victims
2,000 students from six colleges on the Delhi University were asked to vacate the hostels by May end so that renovation could take place to make these buildings fit for players to stay during the Commonwealth Games |
CELEBSPEAK
I am going out of town for my sister's birthday around October, but even if I would have been here, I would have gone out. I think there will be a lot of chaos.
Malini Ramani, Fashion designer
I am definitely not going to go to the stadium to watch the Commonwealth Games for I can't take my children out in the stampede and chaos. I have planned a holiday and will be going out with my family during the CWG. The idea of moving around in the city isn't that fascinating, as there is going to be a lot of traffic because of the CWG. I would rather watch it on television.
Noyonika Chatterjee, Model
