Ravenshaw University in Cuttack

Cuttack, Aug. 5: With the commencement of the new academic session at Ravenshaw University here, the issue of inadequate hostel accommodation for students has resurfaced, posing a major challenge to the university authorities.

Although there is a dearth of hostel seats for boys, the problem is more acute in the case of girl students, who prefer accommodation on the campus believing it be to safer. Also, girls outnumber boys in the university.

“I have taken admission into the commerce stream, but there is no confirmation yet regarding hostel accommodation. The university has issued a list of girl students who have secured hostel seats, but many others like me are waiting for accommodation. I hope this issue is sorted out within a week,” said a fresher.

However, authorities say that steps are being taken to extend the hostel provision for as many boys and girls as possible. “It will be difficult to accommodate all the students. But we are trying our best to accommodate girls entirely in the west hostel and there is also a proposal of constructing a new hostel for girl students near Parija Hostel,” said professor Nachiketa Das, who is warden of one of the hostels.

Das said the permission for building a new hostel for girl students has already been sanctioned and the new hostel would come up soon, involving an expenditure of Rs 3.5 crore. According to the university officials, girls constitute around 65 per cent of the 6,000-odd students at Ravenshaw. At present, there are five ladies hostels — Parija, Devi, Daya, Bhargavi and West hostels — which can accommodate 1,174 students.

On the other hand, there are only four hostels for boys — East Hostel, New PG hostel, and a new hostel called Dharmabrata on the campus and fourth one is Jagannath Chhaatrabaas (hostel) outside the campus.

Though West Hostel has been allotted to girls following a high court order, the official hostel list is yet to be announced by the university. At present, both boys and girl students of integrated MBA besides 40 foreign students from Afghanistan have been put up in West Hostel.

University sources said since the special examination for the Afghan students got over recently, they, along with some other boys students, would be shifted to East Hostel. West Hostel would then be allotted exclusively to girl students.

“There are certain problems relating to accommodation, but there has been considerable improvement in the living conditions in the hostels. Now we are planning to appoint one residential assistant superintendent in all the hostels and create provisions for reading and computer rooms inside the hostels,” Prof. Das added.