Convener News Desk
New Delhi, Dec 18: Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) National Convener Nasir Khuehami on Thursday met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Delhi and raised concerns over what he termed a serious hostel accommodation crisis faced by Kashmiri students at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI).
Khuehami informed the Chief Minister that the hostel constructed specifically for students from Jammu and Kashmir at JMI is presently occupied largely by students from other states, leaving a significant number of Kashmiri students without access to on-campus accommodation.
He said the situation has forced many students to either discontinue their studies or seek costly and often unsafe private accommodation in Delhi, causing academic disruption and financial and psychological stress.
According to JKSA, the hostel was conceived in 2012 following an agreement between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the then Jammu and Kashmir government, and Jamia Millia Islamia University. The ₹16.22-crore project was designed to accommodate around 700 students from J&K. The agreement was signed in the presence of the then Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and then Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Despite being constructed exclusively for students from Jammu and Kashmir, Khuehami said the hostel’s original mandate has not been adhered to, resulting in continued denial of accommodation to eligible Kashmiri students. He described the situation as “unfortunate and inexplicable”, noting that several students have been compelled to abandon admissions or leave courses midway due to lack of affordable housing.
Khuehami urged the Chief Minister to intervene and press the concerned authorities to restore the hostel to its intended purpose and ensure adequate on-campus accommodation for students from the Union Territory. He also highlighted the challenges faced by those living off-campus, including disputes over rent, electricity and water charges, and insecurity, which adversely affect their studies and mental well-being.
Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah assured that the matter would be taken up with the Central government and Jamia Millia Islamia authorities at the earliest. He also said he would personally visit the university in January to review the situation and interact with affected students.
The JKSA said it hoped the intervention would lead to immediate corrective action to ensure that the hostel serves its original purpose of providing safe and affordable accommodation to students from Jammu and Kashmir.
Comments are closed.