The boarders of Eden Hindu Hostel have written to the Presidency University vice-chancellor listing their woes they are encountering over the past one-and-a-half months, such as concrete chunks coming off the ceiling, dysfunctional fans and lights, and leakage in bathrooms.
The students, who forced their way into the hostel on March 17, said they had repeatedly approached the authorities but were yet to get a response.
“If anyone gets injured, then the authority will be held responsible,” says the letter, which was mailed to VC Anuradha Lohia on Sunday.
Listing the problems they have been facing at the hostel, the students have written to the VC: “We, the boarders of Eden Hindu Hostel, would like to address a serious issue. Fragments of the building are coming off the ceiling, the plaster of the building is coming off, water leakage in the bathroom and many more.”
A copy of the letter, along with some additional points, has been forwarded to state education minister Bratya Basu, who is an alumnus of Presidency.
Calls and messages to VC Lohia on Sunday went unanswered.
Asked about the letter from the Hindu Hostel boarders, minister Basu said in a text message: “I shall check with the VC.”
A day after the students had forced their way into the hostel, Basu had called up VC Lohia and told her to take steps to open the hostel immediately. The university, however, has yet to appoint a superintendent for the hostel.
The students had on March 17 entered the hostel after breaking open the lock as the university failed to open the premises despite the resumption of offline classes on February 3. Since then, around 35 students, all from outside Kolkata, have been staying at the hostel.
The boarders in their letter to the VC have sought regular inspection and maintenance of the hostel buildings, proper drinking water supply, proper upkeep of the drainage system and ready availability of first-aid boxes.
In their letter to education minister Basu, the boarders have mentioned that the hostel’s admission process was still suspended.
“So many students who need accommodation cannot apply for the facility. Many are facing issues while attending classes for this. We have previously mailed all these issues to the university administration, but got no reply. Hence we are mailing this to you. We hope that the necessary steps will be taken very soon…,” says the mail to Basu.
Debabrata Mondal, a boarder, said: “We had to approach the minister. A section of students had spent the nights on the campus from February 16 to March 16 because Eden Hindu Hostel was yet to be reopened…. We have to again resort to sustained protest demanding proper maintenance of the hostel.”
Since the dining facility has not yet started, students are forced to buy food from outside.
