Outstation students left in lurch as institutes shut hostel, mess facilities

Though some educational institutions have allowed the students to stay in the college hostels and travel only after getting written approval from the parents, many of the colleges are not taking any responsibility of the students following the closure of the institutions.

“We were informed that the canteen and mess facilities at the institute will be shut down from March 17 and the institute will be closed down by March 22. I have come here from IIT in Gujarat and cannot travel as the risk of the infection is very high. I don’t have any alternative accommodation facilities in the city,” says T Rajashree, a research scholar with the Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in Taramani.

Another hostel resident from a private college in the city said there are many students from Kerala who are not willing to travel to their native place. These students are finding it difficult to arrange the materials for daily requirements as the colleges are not allowing them to go out of the college premises, the student said.

“Many of our parents are not willing to let us travel. Though the hostels are open, the canteens are closed, and we must eat out. While a few of us are staying back, many are forced to return to homes as even basic facilities are not available at the hostels,” said Arun B, a hosteller at a private college in Nungambakkam.

While the authorities at these institutions state they are shutting the facilities to avoid the risk of infection, the students are wondering whatto do for accommodation andmess facilities.