Govt steps in as tension rises at hostel for blind college students, ETEducation
New Delhi: Tension simmers beneath a veneer of calm at the govt hostel for blind college students at northwest Delhi’s Kingsway Camp.
The facility was set up in 1980 as a safe and inclusive space to accommodate such male students pursuing higher education at Delhi University and nearby institutes. However, it’s no longer an oasis of calm, according to a report recently submitted by hostel staffers to Delhi social welfare department, which manages the hostel.
The report flags alleged incidents of indiscipline among residents and at times violent behaviour, prompting the department to initiate steps to restore order.
Videos seen by TOI show groups of residents confronting staff members and damaging hostel property. In a clip, a staffer is seen surrounded and heckled, with students grabbing his collar as a scuffle breaks out. Another shows a resident throwing a utensil, splattering food across the dining hall.
Officials suspect the hostel’s eligibility criteria — it is meant for 100% visually impaired students — may have been relaxed over the years, leading to its atmosphere being vitiated. The facility will be under close watch and its residents monitored from now on to ensure that only eligible students are accommodated, a social welfare department official said. “Both students and staffers have been told to maintain strict discipline. Any form of chaos won’t be tolerated,” the official added.
When TOI visited the campus — it is spread across 3,690 sq m, has 47 rooms, a dining hall and 11 bathrooms — it appeared peaceful. However, both the residents and staffers mentioned rising tension about three months ago that culminated in a scuffle. “It’s true fights take place,” said a staffer on condition of anonymity. “It’s also true some students return to the hostel drunk. But since that clash, nothing major has happened. Now, there’s a sense of fear among the students. But not everyone is at fault; many want to study in peace.”
Poor infrastructure, too, seems to have played a part in the unrest. “The quality of food is bad, Wi-Fi hasn’t been working for the past two years and our bed sheets are not cleaned regularly. All these add to our frustration,” a student said, adding that the hostel dispensary was shut down in 2018.
Acknowledging the students’ gripe, another social welfare official said, “We have written to the technical team to restore the Wi-Fi. Discussions are underway to reopen the dispensary.” He said though bed sheets are provided to the students, they are encouraged to do some chores so that they can be self-reliant.
“The govt is focused on revamping the hostel and ensuring that deserving students are not deprived of facilities,” the official said, adding that it has already taken steps to improve the infrastructure and reaffirm the hostel’s role as a supportive environment for visually impaired students. MSID:: 125107616 413 |
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