At the root of this problem is the increase in intake capacity in almost all courses by the university this year.  While making this decision the university authorities seem to have forgotten to take the university infrastructure in general and the hostel infrastructure in particular into account.
“Why was not the issue of hostel accommodation taken into account before increasing the intake capacity?” questions Syed Bilal whose daughter has to ply daily from Baramulla to Kashmir University. “This reflects on the bleak outlook of university authorities.” The situation has been aggravated by the non-availability of rented accommodations in the vicinity of the university.
“Most of the accommodations in the vicinity had been occupied even before the admission process commenced and the rooms available are either costly and out of reach or in a pathetic state,” said Shafat Husain, a first semester student from Lolab.
In the present security situation, there is also an air of suspicion that prevents landlords from offering accommodations to strangers.
Demand for rental accommodations has shot up the average monthly room rents in the vicinity from Rs 800 to 1800. “Even rooms which would not have deserved a look are finding takers this year,” said Zubair Mir, a shop-owner outside the university. “Hardly any day goes by when there are not four to five enquiries about rooms available for rent”.
For many students, the accommodation problem has become a serious impediment. “Plying such long distances everyday eats into a major portion of our daily time, leaves us completely exhausted with no room for study,” said Majid Yasin Khan, a student.
Lately, the university has resorted to pushing more students into hostel rooms. The situation is particularly grave among the girl students where five girls are being made to stay in a single room. “It’s a blatant denial of human rights. It leaves us no space of freedom and study. The room is more of a prison cell now,” said Shazia Ali, an MSW student.
The university on its part says the students can study in the 24×7 centre of the library any time.  “Do they mean that there should be no study at hostels,” Shafat Hussain, a commerce student questioned.
The university has no immediate solutions. University authorities say a girls’ hostel is under construction and there is plan for a new boys’ hostel.  For the students, however, that is no music to ears, at least for now.

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