Landlord waives ₹7L rent of 70 students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:  16.06.2020

In view of the crisis faced by aspirants of competitive exams and students due to the lockdown, a landlord, who is a high court advocate, has waived three months’ rent of 70 students staying at his PG amounting to Rs 7 lakh. So far, total room rent amounting to around Rs 10-15 lakh has been waived off by many landlords after the campaign launched by Rajasthan Berozgar Ekikrit Mahasangh.

“I own two PGs — one at Gurjar ki Thadi and the other at Maharani Farm. Most of the students who stay at my PG study at the coaching centres. I waived their rent for three months (March, April and May). They pay Rs 3,000 each for a bed and if they opt for food, we charge them Rs 6,000 each,” said Rohit Gautam, who stays at Gurjar ki Thadi and practices law at the high court. He has been running the PGs for the past three years.

“None of them has come back yet. So, I have decided to waive their rent till they return — be it up to July or August. The parents of these students are poor. So, how can we charge them when there is a lockdown in the state? This would be very insensitive and against humanity. We all are facing difficulties in this situation; hence, we should understand their problems as well. I feel, all the landlords should do the same,” he added. Gautam’s father is also an advocate at the high court. He has seven members in his family.

Convener of Rajasthan Berozgar Ekikrit Mahasangh Upen Yadav said, “Had the political leaders ran such a campaign, then the problems of the students would have been solved easily. But, they are silent on this issue.”