Colleges collect hostel booking fee

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, July 30

As the admission process for city colleges has started, access to hostels is proving to be an issue for the students and the authorities.

Though the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the closure of schools/colleges till August 31, a majority of the city colleges have started collecting minimum booking charges for hostels. “We are taking a minimal charge of Rs10, 000 for confirming the occupancy. The amount will be adjusted whenever the hostels open,” said Dr Sutapa Saryal, Dean Admissions, DAV College, Sector 10.

Similarly, Dr Balraj Thapar, Principal, GGSD College, Sector 32, said the management had not taken any decision on charging the fee or mess charges, but a minimum amount had been sought from those interested in ensuring occupancy.

Meanwhile, MCM DAV College, Sector 36, is charging Rs50,000 with an option to refund half the amount if hostels don’t open till December. “We are charging half of the hostel fee as booking charges, which comes down to Rs50,000. Out of this, half the amount will be reimbursed if the college hostel doesn’t open till December. We have not yet taken a call on other charges,” said Principal Nisha Bhargava.

Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26, and Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Sector 26, have not taken any decision regarding allotting hostels; The management of Dev Samaj College said the hostels were allotted on a first-come-first-served basis. “The booking amount is charged and the rest of the amount will be charged when the hostels open,” said one of the spokespersons.

Parents’ concern

Meanwhile, a few parents said the colleges should reduce the hostel fee for new and old students, who paid for the mess but did not avail of the facility due to the lockdown. “The authorities should reduce the fee this year. The old students have already paid the mess charges, which should be adjusted in the year’s fee as no one availed of the facility during the lockdown,” said a parent from Himachal Pradesh, seeking anonymity.

Another student added: “Considering the current financial situation, the authorities should re-structure the hostel fee for the year. The colleges are shut till August 31 and since the future is still uncertain.”