Hostels: Some done, more needed

CHANDIGARH: The subject of improvement in the conditions of PU hostel is expected to be in the limelight once again during this year's elections for the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC), which are likely to be held on August 28.
Though a lot of questions were raised over the management of funds in hostels by the 2014-15 PUCSC president Divyanshu Budhiraja, not much was followed upon to push for an increase in the number of seats and build new hostels — a pertinent issue with a long waiting list on campus.
The BJP student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) also took up the matter with the University Grants Commission (UGC), demanding that the hostels' budget should be a part of PU's main budget.
Budhiraja said, "This year the focus will be on getting the authorities to fulfill the promises they have made over hostel issues. We have managed to get the status of hostel seats online, while a department-wise merit list will be maintained in a common register." He added that fixed deposits lying unused in hostels should be used for development purposes.
"There are no playgrounds in new hostels. Work in this direction can be taken up by reappropriation of funds. Also, there are no reading halls in south campus and some other basic facilities are also lacking. We will be pushing for these issues," added Budhiraja, who is backed by the National Students Union of India (NSUI). He added that hostel seats will be added to the list of issues this year, as this poses problems for girl students.
ABVP's state general secretary Harmanjot Singh Gill said the demands for new hostels will be taken up in addition to other pending issues during the poll campaign. "If university goes ahead with new hostels, these should have latest technology and facilities. We will take this matter to the UGC. Also, quarters meant for married PhD research scholars have been given to teachers. This affects the quality of research at university," he added.
Well-maintained canteens were also one of the demands of students before the elections last year, but not much was done to keep the promise. Many students stated in the feedback forms distributed by the dean (student welfare) office that quality of mess food/canteens and condition was not up to the mark. However, Gill said this was not a major problem as the food in hostels was affordable and hygienic.