Shabby and congested rooms, dirty bathrooms and low quality food may describe the state of affairs of majority of the private girls’ hostels here. Ranchi being the hub of educational institutes attracts students from across the State.
When The Pioneer went to look at the condition of the private girls’ hostel it found that despite paying high fees students do not get better facilities and environment. The hostel fees charged here ranges from Rs2,000- Rs8,000 per annum and in almost all the hostels a room is shared by atleast four to five students.
Inmates apprised The Pioneer about the ‘poor maintenance’ and ‘lack of facilities’ at the hostels.
Ankita Agrawal, a student at Bhagwati Girls’ hostel in Upper Bazar area said, “Almost all the hostel owners provide the same facility. They put four to five beds in a small room and charge between Rs2,000- Rs8,000 per annum, including food. Moreover, for using any electric appliances they charge extra bucks. It becomes suffocating during summer but the warden hardly bothers about it. They even do not concern to put up at least curtains on the windows.”
The hostels in the name of facility only provide a makeshift bed without mattresses, a small study table, water for drinking and bathing and first aid.
Occupant of lakshmi Girls’ Hostel at Kutchery area Kriti Rathod preparing for competitive examinations said, “Warden cheat our parents by promising of providing abundant of facilities. There are around 40 girls in our hostel but there are only two bathrooms, one water purifier and one geyser. The food quality is also very poor.”
Meanwhile, to lure the students hostel wardens present appetizing menu card with delicious food items at the time of admitting them but the picture changes as soon as one enters the hostel mess.“How much hungry we are, one puff of the hostel mess and all appetizers disappear. The menu sounds okay, puri sabji in the morning, dal, rice and vegetable in the afternoon and roti and green vegetable again in the dinner but the dal is always water type and in the name of vegetable only potatoes with or without gravy,” added Himani of Ruchira girls hostel.
Echoing her, another girl said, “Even arbi is mixed with potatoes. For nutrition sometimes we are provided soya nuggets mixed with the vegetable, they taste like nothing but felt like rubber.”However, the hostel wardens feel that they do not charge more from the occupants for the offered facilities.“We try to provide best facility. We show the parents and their ward the entire hostel before money deposition,” said Meenakshi Sinha owner of Bhagwati Girl’s Hostel.