NHRC seeks report on hostel facilities for DU students from Delhi chief secretary, UGC | India News
NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of the lack of adequate and affordable hostel facilities for students of the Delhi University, the National Human Rights Commission has issued directions to Delhi chief secretary and chairperson of the University Grants Commission to submit in consultation with DU a consolidated “action-oriented report” within four weeks on the status of existing facilities, college-wise requirement, steps taken and the proposed plan with timelines for augmenting hostel accommodation.The directions from the NHRC bench chaired by Priyank Kanoongo issued on September 7 gain significance as they come in the backdrop of the tragic building collapse in Satya Niketan area that has claimed lives of students.In this latest directive, the commision has cited its September 30 notice from last year issued in response to a complaint by Network for Access to Justice and Multidisciplinary Outreach Foundation. The non-profit had alleged that DU admits around 72,000 undergraduate students, but hostel availability was highly insufficient forcing students to take up expensive PGs or private rentals resulting in heavy financial burden and adverse impact on overall quality of life.When Kanoongo’s bench had issued a notice last year seeking a report within two weeks from Delhi govt and ministry of education it first did not receive any response. Only after a reminder went out warning of action that a report was received from Registrar (Colleges), Delhi University on Nov 11 .The Commission has observed that the response does not adequately address the substantive grievance raised in the complaint and does not provide any concrete, coordinated or time-bound plan for addressing the shortage of hostel accommodation. Also no details on existing hostels and shortage of such facilities were provided to the commission.In that report DU stated that funds for infrastructure enhancement, including augmentation of hostel facilities, are required to be provided by the funding agencies, namely the UGC and the Delhi govt and that the university and its colleges have been pursuing the matter with the respective funding agencies.
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The University shared that students are admitted in undergraduate courses in 65 constituent/affiliated colleges; out of those, 12 colleges are 100% funded by the Delhi govt, while the remaining 53 colleges are funded wholly or substantially (100% or 95%) by the UGC.The NHRC has, however, observed that the issue cannot remain confined to correspondence between the University, its colleges and their respective funding agencies and has called for coordinated consideration and action by the authorities responsible for funding and infrastructure.
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