KOZHIKODE: At a time when women inmates of Calicut University are struggling to get a place in hostels, the recently inaugurated new women’s hostel is yet to be opened for students.
Inaugurated two months ago by former vice-chancellor Abdul Salam as an initiative to solve the shortage of hostel problems, it continues to be closed and to make matters worse, new admissions have started.
The inauguration was just for namesake as the building was only completed partially.
“At present the condition of the old hostel is more like that of a concentration camp as almost all rooms are tightly packed with inmates” says Karthika S., research scholar in Botany and the secretary of the hostel. “The room which is designed to accommodate four at a time now accommodates six” she added.
The new hostel is constructed far away from the old hostel, causing more trouble for students. “The way to the hostel is covered with thick bushes in which venomous snakes are found and there are no lights” says Pramisha Krishnan, a hostel inmate.
“The engineering works are not properly done as there are many problems yet to be addressed in the rooms and bathrooms of the new hostel” she added.
With the roof leaking, living in the present hostel is an ordeal. “When we got admission here, the authorities promised that we would be relocated soon to the new hostel but even two months after taking admission, no steps for shifting has been done by the authorities” says Archana C, an journ-alism student in Calicut University.
However, authorities refused to comment over the issue. The delay in appointing a warden and security officers to the new hostel is identified as the main reason for the delay in appointment.
“I am not answerable for the issues at the hostel” was the reply of the registrar when asked about the situation faced by the inmates of the hostel. “It is up to the warden and we will discuss and find a solution,” he added.
