JOIN USEven though admission process in colleges is almost over, outstation students’ troubles aren’t. After getting admission Delhi University DU, they now have to look for hygienic, suitable, safe and inexpensive accommodations within college proximity.
With limited seats in hostels for freshers, thousands of outstation students who have secured admission in DU have no other option than to look for a ‘home’ elsewhere.
The first preference of students and their wards is private hostels followed by paying guest accommodations and rented rooms. There are plenty of options for those studying in North Campus with PG accommodation hubs like Vijay Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Maurice Nagar, Kingsway Camp and Dhaka Gaon in the vicinity.
Samiksha Sahu, who hails from Bihar and has got a seat in Miranda House, is looking for a PG accommodation in Kamla Nagar. “College hostel is best in terms of safety and security but I haven’t got a seat there. Now I am looking for a PG in the surrounding area,” says Samiksha.
“At least somebody is there to look after the child in a PG accommodation. They also don’t have to worry about food and household chores,” says Uday Kumar, Samiksha’s
uncle. PG accommodations on sharing basis are available starting from Rs 6000. This provides basic facilities such as food and a housemaid. High-cost PG homes also offer air-conditioning, some furniture and a wi-fi facility.
Others who cannot afford PG accommodations have no other option but to go for rented homes in narrow lanes. “I have taken a rented home along with two other boys in Vijay Nagar. It’s not very good since the room is on third floor and there is a problem of water supply also. But I went for it simply because it is close to the college,” says Romario, who hails from Manipur and has got admission in Hindu College.
Students who have secured admission in South Campus colleges go for rented homes and PG options available at places like Lajpat Nagar, Amar Colony, East of Kailash, SaritaVihar, Satya Niketan and Munirka. However, even they are full already. Some of these accommodations offer two meals, while some also offer three meals depending upon charges and need of the students.
Those seeking a little independence choose to stay in rented homes since they don’t come with restrictions.
Neena Chugh, who offers PG accommodation at her home in Sarita Vihar, says, “I don’t let any student live in my home without meeting his/her parents and knowing their complete details. We do not allow any boys/men to enter in the girls’ rooms... not even their father. They also have to be home by 10 pm. I kind of keep a watch on them. After all, these students become our responsibility,” she says.
Empathising with outstation students, a group of nine second and third-year students have started a website called findyourpg.com to help non-Delhiites look for a suitable accommodation. Started this year, the website provides detailed information of PG
accommodation and hostels availability in the City. “We are all outstation students and
realise that it is a headache to look for a nice place to live in,” says Naveen V, a second-year student of SRCC, who runs the website.
“Outstation students come here with a sense of fear since they are completely new to the City. Their priority is safety, comfort and proximity to college. We do lot of ground work and make the information available for them free of cost,” he says.