Students struggle to arrange hostels as colleges set to reopen

Students struggle to arrange hostels as colleges set to reopen

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:27.01.2021

With physical classes set to commence from February 1, many students are struggling to arrange a hostel/paying guest accommodation. Even colleges are feeling the heat as rooms can no longer be offered on sharing basis as per social distancing norms.

Following the Telangana government orders, many colleges are in the process of allowing final year students from February 1 followed by other students in a phased manner. At a time when the rooms in college and university hostels are already limited and overcrowded, Covid-19 poses a bigger challenge for the managements.

“From February 1-6, students can renew their hostel facility. We will issue ID cards to those who will be renewing the hostel facility for the ensuing academic year. As per the renewals, we will allot rooms. Rooms with six beds will have only two students at a time and a room with two beds will be allotted to a single student,” said professor LB Laxminkanth Rathod, principal, Nizam College, adding that it will be a difficult task to accommodate students.

Nearly 20%-30% of the student population in the city comes from neighbouring districts and states to various colleges for undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Many students are now forced to cough up huge amount to avail private hostel/PG facilities. With colleges planning to call students for laboratory work for only 30 days at a time, finding accommodation is turning out to be a bigger hassle for those coming from other districts.

“Most private hostels and PGs are seeking an advance of at least three months. Nobody is ready to accommodate us for a month or less than that. How does the government expect us to come from farflung places and cough up huge amount without having any clarity on the schedule of classwork,” said Jonnalagadda Sharath, a BTech student.