Home sweet home
There’s no safe haven like home; getting hostel accommodation is as competitive and tough as getting admissions in DU

By Shubhdarshani Mitra
New Delhi, July 03: Amoyee is one among hundreds of students who come to the University of Delhi every year to seek admission for various undergraduate programmes. She is waiting for the list of students who will get hostel seats in Indraprastha (IP) College. She is also prepared to put up in a PG accommodation “for it’s the only choice left” as her friend, accompanying her, says.

Till a few years back, getting a hostel seat was a must for outstation students to get a nod from their parents to study in a place like Delhi. A number of students would negotiate on the colleges and go for one where they would get hostel accommodation. “I got through Lady Sri Ram (LSR) College but I went for IP College as I did not get a hostel in LSR. My parents were very adamant that I must stay in a college hostel. It was the same case with my cousin who is my age,” says Rukmani Sah, who did her English honours from IP College.

The scene seems to be changing with changing times. Students are now coming to DU, reconciled to the fact that a large number don’t make it to college hostels. The race is now for good paying guest (PG) accommodations!

“I have applied for English honours and my hostel request is pending with IP College. The list is going to be out tomorrow (July 4). I am hoping that I will get hostel seat, otherwise I will have to start looking for a PG accommodation,” says Amoyee, who has applied in IP College for English honours.

“I belong to Manipur. I got 82.5 per cent and I did not get hostel. Moreover, there were just two seats for OBCs. I applied for sociology honours in Miranda. Since I did not get hostel, I have taken up a PG accommodation near Vijaynagar,” says Kampila (name changed), who got through Miranda House.

Colleges like Sri Ram College of Commerce, St Stephens and few others have their bulletin boards adorned with advertisements for PG accommodation for boys and girls. You just need to keep your eyes open, there are many options. But as mentioned earlier, the strife is now for good PGs that would provide good food, air conditioned rooms and have relaxed timings.

“The deadline in college hostels is like 7 pm which is really strict. It’s more relaxed and eased out in PGs. Moreover, food and all is better in PGs as compared to college hostels,” says Palak Gupta, a Ist year student of Daulat Ram College.

Moreover, there is no surety you will be able to retain the hostel seat next year as the seats are decided according to the merit based on the examination results. Also, seats in hostels are marked for various courses, which make the competition even tougher.

“In our college, the hostel is really good and there are nearly 125 seats. For the Ist year students, the seats are allotted based on the merit and for the IInd year and IIIrd year students, it is based on the results of the examinations. The residing hostellers must pass with good percentage, else they might lose their seats. Also, the hostel seats are allotted depending upon the merit in a subject. So, the merit based seat allotment for economics honours would be different from English honours. There are 2-3 seats per course,” says Gayatri Prakash, vice-principal, Daulat Ram College.

While a course of your choice and a college to add on to your dream academic destination is foremost for students these days, worried parents can still be spotted in college corridors. Rama Singh, one such mother who has come all the way from Patna for her daughter’s admission, looks concerned as she waits outside the admission room. A conversation with her confirms the reiterated fact. She might not allow her daughter to study in DU if she doesn’t get a college hostel!

“We have come from Patna and my daughter is here for admissions in Daulat Ram. She has applied for English honours. We are still not sure about the hostel. I am a little worried on that front. A college hostel is safer, I feel. She has also filled her forms back home. We will see how it works out,” says Rama Singh.

Some places near the north campus where one can find PG accommodation are Hudson lines, Kamla Nagar, Vijay Nagar, Roop Nagar etc.