Pbi varsity students, faculty oppose move

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 9

Faculty members, students and residents’ welfare association of Punjab University campus are now against the district administration’s decision to use three hostels on campus as Covid-care centres.

Teachers and residents’ welfare associations demand that the administration should reconsider use of hostels, as over 1,000 teaching, non-teaching employees and others live on campus.

The administration decided to use hostels at Punjabi University, Thapar University, and Meritorious Schools as isolation centres on April 15.

Following this, students of three hostels on university campus were directed to vacate the premises on Friday.

Nikhil, a resident of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Hostel, said, “I am a resident of Himachal Pradesh. I can’t come on my own on short notice and due to the lockdown. I had to send my local friend to collect my belongings from hostel.”

Vickrm Singh Baghi, press secretary, Democratic Students Organisation, said, “Many students could not collect their belongings as they lived far away. We will protest against the university if students’ belongings are lost.”

Dr DP Singh and Dr Rajinder Singh, convener and co-convener, University’s Resident Welfare Association said, “The district administration should reconsider its decision. Two of the three identified hostels are adjacent to residents’ quarters.”

When contacted, SDM Charanjit Singh said, “Hostels will be used at the third stage to shift positive patients with mild symptoms. We are taking decisions with help of doctors and ensuring all precautions. Patients will be shifted here only if there is a rush at the first two stages in hospitals.”