New session approaches, hostels in PU not fit to welcome students

With the academic session about to start in July, Panjab University (PU) hostels continue to grapple with the problems of necessary electricity equipment, quality food, and basic facilities like proper toilets.

Leaking roofs during rains cause paint blisters on the walls, defunct water pipes in toilets, and opened water tanks are issues that need to be addressed.

Students say the mess facilities are poor condition, and food served is even worse.

Students organisations say memorandums were submitted to the officials, including the vice-chancellor, but nothing happened.

An ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad) spokesperson Saurabh Kapoor said, “Our demands of the renovation of hostels before the new academic session fell on deaf ears. There is no check on seeping water tanks with no covers, leakage of water from ceilings, and toilets are in worse condition.”

He added, “With monsoon nearing, rain can cause troubles for students.”

Munish Sharma from hostel number 6 had recently uploaded pictures of his room filled up with rainwater on a social networking website. “I am staying here for the past two years, and my experience is not at all satisfying. Students prefer hostels as they are cheaper than paying guests (PGs), and are supposed to offer good environment. But conditions here are miserable.”

A hosteller, Garima Jain said their problems begin at the entrance itself. “With monkeys all around the gate, it’s scary and difficult to get an entry, “said Jain, adding girls hostels need more washing machines so students don’t have to wait in queue.

“Each floor should have two washing machines. Food quality, which has never been good during my two-year stay here, needs to be improved.”

Besides, the issue of fewer hostel seats continues to be a big problem due to waiting list of around 800-900 students every year.