Bhubaneswar, May 13: The students of BJB Junior College today urged the principal to keep their hostels open during the summer vacation. The issue was discussed at a meeting in the office of the principal who had earlier issued a notice, which said the hostels would remain closed from May 14 to June 18.
“We cannot stay at home for more than a week since we have already taken admission at a private coaching centre. The classes would begin next week. Unless the hostel is kept open, we would not have a place to stay,” said a first-year student on condition of anonymity.
“We can make arrangements for our food even if the canteen is closed down for one month. But finding an alternative accommodation now would be difficult and expensive,” rued another student.
Principal, S.N. Mohanty said hostels in government colleges are usually closed during vacations and his instruction was in compliance with the official rules and regulations.
“When announcements regarding the closure of a college are made, hostels are also kept closed. Many students tend to stay back in the hostels unofficially. Since this issue has come to our knowledge, I cannot defy the rules and allow them to stay during the vacation,” said Mohanty.
Accordingly to college authorities, the hostels of other government colleges in the capital such as Ramadevi Women’s College and College of Basic Science have already been closed down for the summer break.
Mohanty added he had taken this decision since there would be no campus or curriculum-related activity during the one-month vacation. He said: “Attending classes at a private coaching institution is not part of college activity. Moreover, the hostel superintendents and caretakers would not be here. We don’t want any untoward incident to take place.”
After the meeting, the students submitted a written application to the principal stating that “the students would be solely responsible” in case something goes wrong.
“We are sympathetically considering the grievances of the students and would take a decision in consultation with the higher authorities (higher education department authorities). Until then, the students shall be allowed to stay in the hostels,” said Mohanty.
