DU students will have to cough up more for hostels

Students will now have to pay more for hostel accommodation in Delhi University, as the varsity has proposed a fee hike in all its hostels.

The University's DS Kothari Hostel for Men will be the first one to go ahead with the hike in its accommodation fee, with an aim to generate the requisite funds for security resources and mess.

The premiere hostel of the University has levied the additional amount of Rs 1,200 each month for each occupant. With this addition, the hostel has doubled its fee, compared to last year's Rs 1,200 per month. The revised few will now be Rs 2,400.

The hostel comprises 39 double-seated rooms and 19 single-seated rooms to accommodate its inmates. The maximum occupancy of the hostel is 97.

The management committee of the hostel said that the fee hike will be applicable to each student, in order to meet the expenses under the other contract services.

"Despite repeated requests, the University did not enhance the provisions under contract services," said an official at DS Kothari hostel.

He added that there are nearly six hostels in the campus, which are not fully funded by the University Grants Commission.

"According to the new guidelines, we have to pay the minimum wages to the security guards, in which students are also partially involved for generating the money. Because the University is not granting is fund, the hostel is unable to manage. To meet the expenditure, students also need to contribute" the official added.

Meanwhile, an official at the University informed that other hostels in the varsity are also expected to hike their fee. "We have started from one hostel, to check the response. Soon, all other hostels will also increase the minimum rent" the official said.

Protesting against the hike in hostel fee, Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) president Amit Tanwar said: "We have written a letter to the concerned authorities of the University and expect the order will be taken back."

There are as many as 18 hostels that are maintained by the University, most of which are located in North Campus. About seven of these are women's hostels.

Most hostels maintained by the University are mostly for postgraduate and research students.

There are 17 colleges in the varsity which have hostels reserved for undergraduate students.

Most hostels in the University are also slowly opting for 'self financing', by hiking their fee, which has enraged students as well as DUSU.