Outstation students boost campus commerce

MUKHERJEE NAGAR: This one sounds like good economics. Even at a conservative estimate, there over 50,000 outstation students living in areas surrounding Delhi University.
And they contribute significantly to the economy of areas such as Mukherjee Nagar, Indra Vihar, Model Town, Civil Lines, Parmanand colony and Vijay Nagar.
Assuming one student spends an average Rs 2,000 per month, it amounts to Rs 10 crores.Multiply it by 12 and you have a figure of 120 crores in a year. Remember, this is only a conservative estimate.
Most of the students come from Bihar, UP, Uttaranchal, Meghalaya and Assam. There is a huge mismatch between demand and supply in DU hostels and students have no option but to go for private accommodation. The rest comes packaged.
"A hostel was out of question for me and I had to go for a rented house, which is three times more expensive," says Puneet Singh, a first-year History honours student at Hansraj, who lives in Mukherjee Nagar.
Even the rents have increased manifold in the last 10 years. Food options too have become numerous - packed tiffin, dhabas are the most popular - and no longer cheap.
There are expenses attached with telephones and Internet surfing. "It''s expensive but unavoidable," reasons Sonell Kanyal, who stayed at Hakeekat Nagar while pursuing her Physics degree at Miranda House.
She adds: "The tiffin that I used to get was supplied by two old ladies, who were full-time into it. There were 50 students just in my area who had their meals at Rs 800 per month." The figures tell it all.
Piyush Singh, an engineering graduate who is preparing for PG entrance in US universities, ends up spending at least Rs 60 per day on surfing in his Hudson Lines neighbourhood, besides Rs 3,500 on rent.
"I surf in a house-turned cyber cafe and the place is full always," he says. "Such businesses are flourishing like never before," says Anand Mohan, who lived in the area.
"Why can''t we have good education facilities in Bihar to stop mass exodus of students," he adds.
The exodus has not only added to the economy but also brought about a perceptible change in the culture.
"Holi is played in a typical Bihari style. Many Dilliwallahs have started Chhath, a traditional festival of Bihar," observes Satya Priya Verma, an ex-Mukherjee Nagar resident. Even the language by small shop owners has a Bihari flavour.
"Outstation students certainly add to the rich economy of this area. But there are many who cannot afford such an arrangement. We have taken this issue at various levels," says Ashok Tanwar, all-India president, NSUI. Till the time there is a solution, the kitty of north Delhi gets fatter.