Madras University hostel faces space crunch
The hostel is suffering from space shortage
By : ashmita gupta
Update: 2015-11-01 05:45 GMT
Chennai: The historic Madras University campus at Chepauk, which houses more than 10,000 students, is facing a space constraint. The hostel is suffering from space shortage. As a result, excess number of students cram hostel rooms.
A classic example of it is that some students from the post graduates hostel for girls claimed that nearly 300 students were accommodated whereas it can accommodate only 90. As a result, students are forced to sleep on the floor. Also because of excess numbers, students face water scarcity.
According to students, M.Phil and Ph.D students were also accommodated in the hostel following requests by heads of departments. A PG student seeking anonymity said “ There are too many students staying in this hostel. We don’t even have double-decker beds. So, it is really a problem as it remains crammed all the time,” she said.
University registrar P.David Jawahar said the actual capacity is 150 and not 90 students. “ I agree that more than 150 students are staying in the hostel but it certainly did not exceed to 300 students. Moreover, while taking M.Phil and Ph.D students there was a mutual understanding between them and PG students,” he said. He further added that since these students stay far away from their home, the heads of the departments requested the hostellers to accommodate these students.
The students also added that some days back after having hostel food many suffered food poisoning or some stomach ailments. But after complaints, the hostel started providing proper food.
An M.Phil student who is staying as paying guest near the university said, “I was offered PG hostel. I refused to take it. When there is an M.Phil wing why would they offer a PG hostel” she exclaimed. Even the M.Phil wing is crammed."