J-K students body writes to Amit Shah over hostel crisis for Jamia's Kashmiri students

NEW DELHI: The Jammu and Kashmir student's association has written a formal letter to union home minister Amit Shah, urging his intervention in addressing the accommodation crisis faced by Kashmiri students at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi. The students association highlighted that the hostel specifically built for students from Jammu and Kashmir is being occupied by students from other states, forcing many Kashmiri students to abandon their degrees midway or preventing them from enrolling due to the lack of hostel facilities.

The letter, signed by representatives of the Jamuna and Kashmiri Students association, outlines the challenges Kashmiri students face in securing accommodation at Jamia Millia Islamia. As per the letter, the university, which enrolls hundreds of students from Jammu and Kashmir each year across bachelor's, master's, and PhD programmes, has not been able to provide adequate housing for these students. According to the association, these students often struggle to find private rentals due to various issues, and on-campus hostel accommodations are difficult to secure.

History of hostel project at Jamia Millia Islamia

As per the information on the letter, to alleviate these problems, a hostel project specifically for Kashmiri students was planned in 2012. The project, valued at ₹16.22 crore, was designed to accommodate 700 students and was a collaborative effort between the ministry of home affairs, the then state government of Jammu-Kashmir, and Jamia Millia Islamia. The hostel, built within the university campus, was funded by the state government, with expenses later reimbursed by the ministry of home affairs.

The project was expected to be completed within 24 months. However, various delays pushed the project's inauguration to 2017, and the hostel was finally opened on April 30, 2018. The initiative was intended to ensure that 700 students from Jammu & Kashmir would have a comfortable stay at the university, integrating them with students from the rest of the country.

Hostel meant for Kashmiri students occupied by others

Six years after its opening, the association claims that the situation remains dire. The hostel, meant exclusively for Kashmiri students, is now primarily occupied by students from other states, leaving many Kashmiri students struggling to secure on-campus accommodation. This has led to aunfortunate scenario where students are forced to either drop out of their programmes or not enroll at all due to the unavailability of hostel facilities.

The letter mentions that a delegation of students has met with the association, expressing their difficulties and urging action from the home minister. The association emphasized that the lack of on-campus accommodation not only affects students' academic performance but also places a financial and emotional burden on them and their families. According to the J and K students association, high rents for private accommodation add to their stress, and the absence of hostel facilities hinders the formation of strong student communities, which are essential for collaborative learning and personal development.

Daily struggles and impact on education

The J-K students association letter read, "On behalf of the Jammu & Kashmir students studying at Jamia Millia Islamia, urge you to address this pressing issue by increasing on-campus accommodation facilities. The students who have heen forced to reside outside the campus face daily challenges as tenants, including disputes electricity usage and other matters. These issues consume a s significant portion of their time and have a detrimental effect on their education. A major portion of their time is consumed in cooking and cleaning, further affecting their studies."

In their concluding paragraph, the association expressed hope that the home minister would take the necessary steps to ensure that the Kashmiri students receive the accommodation they were promised. They believe that timely intervention will greatly enhance the confidence of Kashmiri students, contributing to their overall well-being and academic success.