As Hindu College invites applications for its new girls’ hostel, some of the rules in the hostel’s prospectus have irked Pinjra Tod, a student organisation.
The organisation that has been taking up women-related causes on the campus, one of them being affordable and safe residences for girl students, pointed out that the fee for the hostel is almost double than that for the boys, which is around Rs.40,000 annually.
The prospectus says the fee for the girls’ hostel is around Rs. 80,000 annually. The prospectus of the hostel also states that residents will be required to seek permission from the warden when they participate in an event happening inside the college premises. Further, they will not be allowed to bring in a female guest, who is not a college student, without the warden’s permission. Also, guests will be required to leave the common room by 10.30 p.m. “It is a welcome step that Hindu College has finally opened a hostel for women. However, Pinjra Tod is appalled at how regressive and discriminatory this new hostel will be. The college administration has clearly stated that women residents are definitely not to have the same rights as their male counterparts. Their lives and every movement are to be constantly regulated, controlled and limited,” said Devangana Kalita, a member of the organisation. “While Hindu’s boys’ hostel is famous for having barely any regulations, this new hostel would definitely qualify for having some of the most stringent and ridiculous rules on campus,” she added.
When contacted by The Hindu , Principal Anju Srivastava, said the college was simply being careful as this was the first year. “The college is concerned about safety. Since this is the first year that the hostel is going to be operational, we want to be extra careful, which is why we have kept the clause of taking permission from the warden. Permission will be granted, why not?
Members of Pinjra Tod, who had earlier met the Delhi Commission for Women with regard to the lack of hostels for girls in the North Campus, are now planning to approach the college principal.
They pointed out that other girls’ hostels allow day-boarders with an entry in the register, while common rooms are usually open for longer periods. Permission from the warden is required in case an event is happening outside the college.
According to the students, among the other “bizarre” rules is that of allowing just one night out from the hostel in a month. “Hostels in Miranda House and Lady Shri Ram College allow six night-outs to girls in a month. Why should girls live in such an expensive hostel and be like prisoners? We will not be allowed to watch TV in the common room after 10.30 p.m. Other hostels also have rules, but the time there is at least till 1 a.m.,” said Shambhavi Vikram, a student of Hindu College and an active member of Pinjra Tod.
