The New Indian Express ·
Education
Plans afoot to build hostel facilities for 10K students, policy job underway: CM Rekha Gupta
NEW DELHI: The government has planned to build hostel facilities for 10,000 students amid the renewed scrutiny of student accommodation facilities following the recent Satya Niketan collapse. The move is aimed at expanding access to safe, secure and affordable accommodation for the students moving to the capital for higher education, said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday.
The proposed hostels will accommodate students, both male and female enrolled in various colleges and universities of Delhi. “If we envision the capital as a major education hub, we must meet the need for hostels alongside colleges and universities,” Gupta said in a video message.
She noted that lakhs of students travel to Delhi for education every year and often face difficulties in finding a suitable hostel accommodation even after securing admission in the top colleges.
The proposed facilities would focus not only on increasing the number of available beds but also on providing students with a supportive living environment.
At present, the government is now working on location and a policy framework for the proposed facilities. She said, the next steps are expected to include finalising the sites, construction plans and the eligibility norms.
The CM said the government has already held discussions with departments capable of undertaking the construction, identified suitable sites and started work on framing a policy covering the facilities and amenities to be provided.
“Parents of students arriving from across the country can leave their children with complete peace of mind,” the chief minister said. She added that the aim was to allow students to concentrate on their academic goals rather than housing-related concerns. It coincides with efforts by the University of Delhi to significantly expand its residential infrastructure.
The proposed hostels will accommodate students enrolled in various colleges and universities of Delhi. “If we envision the capital as a major education hub, we must meet the need for hostels alongside colleges and universities,” the CM said in a video message.
