Rahul Gandhi questions PM over lack of hostels for female students

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday raised concerns about insufficient hostel accommodation for female students. He asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to respond to difficulties described by a student in Indore.

Gandhi said the student had moved from a village for her studies and was living in paying guest accommodation because no hostel was available. In a Hindi social media post, he said safety expenses and monthly rent added to her worries.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed many girls discontinued their studies because they had nowhere to stay. He also alleged that housing allowance had not kept pace with inflation and was affected by corruption.

Gandhi quoted the student as asking, "The government has money to light diyas, why not for our hostels?" He then asked Modi whether he had an answer to her question.

The exchange took place during Gandhi's "Chhatron Ki Goonj" programme in Indore on Saturday. The event focused on education, recruitment and employment concerns raised by young participants.