Shortage of Hostel Accommodation for female students in local colleges at Port Blair raises Concerns

John Wilbert & Vikramaditya
Port Blair, September 25: The shortage of girls’ hostel accommodation for students of remote Islands in prominent colleges like JNRM and ANCOL at Port Blair has emerged as a pressing issue, forcing many eligible students to seek lodging outside the college premises, which poses security concerns and financial burdens.

Andaman Sheekha Daily investigated the matter and found that a solution to this problem is available due to Administrative delay, the students and their parents are forced to undergo mental agony since the last few years.

College authorities of ANCOL and JNRM are willing to adjust as much as possible to allot hostels to new students but they are also helpless. Over the past few years, this issue has been repeatedly brought to the attention of political leaders and the Administration. Concerns have also been raised by concerned parents and students alike.

A parent shared their perspective, highlighting the ordeal faced by a large number of college students, especially girls, who are denied hostel accommodation. This issue is particularly distressing for students hailing from far-flung islands. Additionally, an almost constructed 125-bed hostel building inside JNRM Girls’ Hostel campus remains unused as construction work is in its final stages.

Students who fail to secure hostel accommodation are compelled to look for lodging outside, where landlords charge exorbitant rates. Security becomes a major concern in these circumstances, leading to an increased risk of dropouts and adversely affecting academic performance.

It is urgently requested that the Andaman Administration expedite the opening of the newly built girls’ hostel at ANCOL. The completion of this facility would alleviate the accommodation crisis for the remaining students. Additionally, the proposal to convert some abandoned government buildings into temporary hostels for college students has been suggested as an interim solution until new hostel blocks are constructed.

Contacted by Andaman Sheekha, college authorities at JNRM confirmed that the 125-bed new hostel building is in its final stages of completion. Furthermore, repairs for two older buildings are approximately 10% away from completion. These projects had experienced delays due to fund shortages. Recent information indicates that funds will be sanctioned within two months, enabling the completion of pending work and the provision of hostel facilities to needy students.

Similarly, sources said that in ANCOL a 100-bed new hostel building, initially estimated at 6.5 crores, had faced cost overruns due to its geographical location and hilly terrain. The revised cost estimate reached a total of 8 crores. While 3.8 crores were initially provided by the Central Government, further funding was halted for unspecified reasons. The UT Administration has been approached for the remaining 1.7 crores required to complete the construction. Recent updates suggest that funding will be approved shortly, allowing for the finalization of the remaining work. Presently, around 84% of the work has already been completed.