BC students upset over shifting of hostel

NT Correspondent

 Bengaluru

Students of hostels run by Karnataka’s Backward Class Welfare Department have filed a petition in Karnataka High Court against the transfer of hostel allotment mid-semester to Yelahanka. The students allege that the new hostel is far from their college and their transportation expenses will go up. These students currently reside in Anjananagar, Bedarahalli, Magadi Road, and R.T. Nagar Backward Classes hostels.

Hemant, a student of Government Science College and staying at the RT Nagar hostel, alleges that the officials are forcing them to vacate. “We have been continuously protesting and talking to the authorities concerned, but they are not doing anything. Our exams are coming, and this entire fiasco is distracting us. In order to take part in protests, I missed a lot of classes. Even if the department wants to shift us, they can do so after the semester,” he said.

 Another student, Saurav, says that the new hostel is 45 km away from his college, which will cause him a lot of inconvenience. “They are shifting us to a place where there is no proper connectivity. It is already very difficult to afford to live in the city. Spending money on transport will further increase the economic burden on my family,” he said.

Some students also allege that it is an ‘unofficial’ order. They claim that the department didn’t show them any government permit to vacate the hostels. Due to this the students have decided to continue with their protest till their demands are met.

 However, the officials claim that currently, the students are staying in rented buildings, and the state government has constructed a new hostel building for them in Yelahanka. “These students will be shifted to a government building. This will help us save a lot of money. According to our estimate we will save approximately Rs 60 lakh as we will not be paying rent. The department will be arranging buses to transport students,” said the district officer of the Backward classes hostel. The case filed by the students is listed for hearing on August 8.