A student comes all the way from Chennai to study at the coveted Delhi University. Due to lack of hostel accommodation in the university, he seeks shelter in a small cell in Christian Colony. No bigger than the size of a standard bathroom, the student lives out of a camp cot. He receives a paltry Rs6,000 from his parents for his monthly expenses of which Rs3,000 goes into forking out the rent for a 6x6 feet cell located in the bylanes of the colony. He is now part of a 700 plus student movement demanding enforcement of the Room Rent Control Act.
After repeated inaction by Delhi University and the Government administration on escalating room rents, around 700 students living in Christian Colony of the North Campus have now formed a Tenant Welfare Association, which will ensure no student coughs up more than Rs1,500 as rent.Praveen Singh, president of the association, said, “Several students of Delhi University have been staying in these cells of sizes as small as 5x6 feet and no bigger than 8x 10 feet. 700 of us have banded together to raise hackles.”
Singh along with other students living in Christian Colony raised the issue for the first time in January 2013.“The university gave us verbal assurance. However, nothing happened and in September last year, we decided to sit on hunger strike. The university gave us an assurance in writing. This year we have again raised this issue and written letters to the President, Prime Minister and all authorities concerned. Our efforts are only being met with stony silence,” said Singh.
However, on October 14, Delhi Police prevented the students from protesting after which the students filed a Public Interest litigation (PIl) in Delhi High Court. On October 31, they finally got permission and began their hunger strike. Singh said their only demand is that the Room Rent Control Act be enforced. “Cramped quarters, worse than prison cells, breach statutory overcrowding regulations. Students are forced to share rooms; there is overcrowding and bad maintenance. landlords exploit a captive audience. They bilk us by not giving receipts,” said Singh.
The rooms that these students live in are also dingy, unkempt and without ventilation. Woodlice in the bathroom and mould on the walls - for many students this is what decorates their home. Putting up with mice in the cupboard and slugs in the bathroom is just part of university life for many students. The students feel that for such a cramped living quarters, Rs3,000 is “daylight robbery”.
Singh said if the Government remains inert, the Tenant Welfare Association will go to court and get the issue resolved.