No hostel, no option: Delhi University students forced into risky PGs like the one collapsed in Satya Niketan

Delhi Building Collapse: Shivam is a second-year student at Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD), a constituent college of Delhi University (DU). ARSD is one of a dozen colleges and DU’s South Campus itself located near Dhaula Kuan and the Satya Niketan area, where the multi-storey paying-guest (PG) building collapsed on Sunday.

Until a year back, Shivam was also living in one of the PGs located in the narrow bylanes of the area, paying a monthly rent of Rs 16,800 for a double-sharing room, and another few thousands for the electricity consumed.

Thousands of students studying in these colleges have no other option but to rely on these PGs. Apart from one – Sri Venkateswara College – none of the other institutes have hostel facilities. Venkateswara has separate hostels for men and women, but with limited capacity. As a central university, Delhi University draws students from all across the country, and many say their accommodation costs far exceed their college fees.

On Monday, the DU vice-chancellor, Yogesh Singh met college principals and urged them to expand hostel facilities. But college authorities say there is simply no space available on the campus to build hostels – a shortfall that has fuelled the growth of PGs in the area.

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DU hostel shortage leads to PGs mushrooming

Unable to keep up with the expenses, Shivam moved to Naraina in his second year, about 9.5 km from his college, along with his three friends.

“Now each one of us pays about Rs 11,000 per month and we have a room to ourselves. It is on a government electricity meter and the first 200 units are free. It is a little far from college, but is still better. In Satya Niketan , buildings have several storeys and the owners do not even live there. The properties are generally leased out, with sub-meters installed, and the electricity rate varies from building to building. The owners really do not bother maintaining them,” said Shivam, a student of political science honours, from Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Three of his classmates remain untraceable while another was injured in the building collapse and is being treated in hospital. The death toll from the collapse is 6 so far with rescue operations still underway.

Udit, a second-year history student at Venkateswara College, still lives in one of the PGs of Satya Niketan. He pays about Rs15,000 per month for a single room with AC, but says it still feels cramped.

“I have lived in PG since my first year. Hostel allotments depend on your ranks, so I did not even apply,” said Udit, who is from Greater Noida.

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Women students at Maitreyi College, Jesus and Mary College also depend on these PGs at Satya Niketan. Lady Shri Ram College for Women in south Delhi recently inaugrated their renovated women’s hostel.

Simran Bakshi, a student of one of these women colleges, said, “Our college is in Chanakyapuri. It is difficult to find accommodation in that area so I live in Satya Niketan too. Unlike the north campus area, PG cost is much higher here – in Shakti Nagar we can still find a place for around Rs10,000.” Bakshi pays around Rs 15,000 per month for a twin sharing room that includes three meals.

Students feel there should be some sort of rent control mechanism around the college area.

In 2015, DU alumnus Praveen Kumar Singh had started a ‘Right to Accomodation’ movement demanding the implementation of the Delhi Rent Act 1995.

Delhi University Colleges: Lack of space to build hostels

Manoj Sinha, principal of Aryabhatta College said that the college does not have space to build hostels.

“There are two colleges operating from the premises. There were no classes today as teachers stayed late into the night with students. We opened the college for anyone who wanted to stay but only three students came – most went with their friends to live,” said Sinha.

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Aryabhatta College was earlier Ram Lal Anand (Evening) college. Aryabhatta became a full-fledged morning college in 2014-15.

The principal of another college, who did not wish to be identified, said, “Now with the four-year undergraduate programme , we need more space to expand classrooms and labs. So there is a dearth of space. There is no scope to expand either as the Aravalli area is right around it.”

Every year, DU admits about 54,000 students in its 63 affiliated colleges. North campus colleges like Hindu, Hansraj, Ramjas, Kirori Mal, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Miranda House, Daulat Ram College have on-campus hostels.