3 youth hostels inspected for poor maintenance, catering

Vikas Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, January 8

A team of the Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI), J&K Chapter, recently visited the three youth hostels in the state following alleged reports of poor maintenance and catering.

The team has submitted its report to the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.

Sources said the team visited Youth Hostel, Nagrota, Youth Hostel, Patnitop, and Youth Hostel, Srinagar. They said the team inspected the hostels and prepared a report based on their findings.

Sources further said the YHAI team found the buildings in good shape but their poor maintenance and catering services remained a major concern.

The hostels, which are affiliated with the YHAI, are being utilised by the Department of Youth Services and Sports for accommodation of the players during the state-level and national competitions.

“The problem with these three hostels is that even the members of the YHAI across the country and J&K do not avail themselves of the services provided by them like boarding/lodging/catering because the hostels are utilised by the Sports Department for only accommodating players, defeating the very purpose of the hostels,” a YHAI official claimed.

“There are some hotels in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions which are licensee youth hostels of the YHAI and offer all facilities to the members across the country. These include Hotel City Top in Jammu district, Hotel Blue Safire in Udhampur district, Hotel Lakshman at Mantalai in Udhampur district,” official added.

Taran Singh, general secretary, YHAI, J&K Chapter, said: “There are a total of 85 Youth Hostels in India which are affiliated with the YHAI but are being utilised by government departments, affecting their smooth functioning.”

“After our visit to the Youth Hostels in the state, a report was prepared and submitted it to the Sports Ministry for reaffiliation of the hostels exclusively with the YHAI. The Ministry is yet to take a decision regarding the same,” Taran Singh said.

The YHAI has a network of more than 95 Youth Hostels across the country. They include both partnered accommodations under the licence of the Youth Hostels scheme and hostels under the direct administration of the YHAI.

A property/hotel can enter into an agreement with the YHAI and can become a licensee youth hostel after meeting the price range, basic hygiene and safety standards of the YHAI.

The YHAI’s mission is to enable and promote travel, tourism, adventure spirit, national integration, education and health by providing hostels of good standards to youth with limited means during their travel, besides organising adventure and educational events.