Union Govt's University Townships & Girls Hostels: Boost for Jharkhand Education & Industry

Ranchi: Youths and academicians welcomed the Union govt’s announcement of support to the states in setting up of five university townships in the vicinity of major industrial and logistic corridors. The academic zones would consist of universities, colleges, research institutions, skill centres and residential complexes. Besides female students welcomed the proposed girls' hostel to be established in every district.Marwari college student Mahi stated, “A govt hostel would ensure a safe place for the girls. Outstation girl students face problems in getting a good hostel. Also, many undue restrictions are imposed on the inmates by the hostel owners.”Another student, Isha Gupta, said, “A govt hostel would be affordable as compared to private ones.”Dean (school of management sciences) with the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ), Bateshwar Singh, said, “The establishment of girls’ hostels in every district would remove the concerns about safe accommodation for girl students that had compelled rural families to withdraw girls from higher education. This would lead to a higher enrollment and retention of girl students.”Ranchi University’s head of department (chemistry) Smriti Singh said, “Girls from rural and far-flung areas face adverse living conditions in private hostels while studying in cities like Ranchi. The govt hostels would help them.”Referring to university townships, she said, “Jharkhand, which boasts of industries in steel, power, and other sectors, has potential to benefit from the proposal. The step would encourage industry-academia collaboration and also employment opportunities of students.”However, NSUI’s state vice-president Aman Ahmad claimed that the budget lacked concrete roadmap for improving quality of education, providing scholarship to students, and creating sustainable employment opportunities for youths.