Students from Darjeeling hills studying at North Bengal University (NBU) are advocating for a fairer system of hostel allocation, driven by recent developments. They argue that the current method, which solely accounts for the distance from home to the university, disregards the challenging terrain and prolonged commutes endured by hill students.
Muskan Chettri, a post-graduate student, underscores “the imperative for authorities to grasp the unique hardships faced by Darjeeling hill students”. Abhisek Rai, General Secretary of the Hills Students Association of NBU, presses for hostel seat reservations or a reevaluation of allocation criteria.
Despite their efforts, many Darjeeling hill students continue to grapple with housing insecurity, prompting some to even withdraw from their studies. NBU officials acknowledge the issue but stress the necessity of internal discussions before any modifications can be implemented.
On May 6th, the ‘Darjeeling hill Students’ Association at North Bengal University heightened their campaign for fair hostel allocations after being denied accommodation. They formally petitioned the university registrar, citing systemic disparities. Students from hilly regions contend that the current system, which relies solely on distance measurements from Google Maps, fails to consider the actual travel time and hardships endured by hill students.
They advocate for a revamped methodology prioritizing travel time or, alternatively, the reservation of hostel seats based on the percentage of Darjeeling hill students enrolled. The association calls for bipartisan political support and emphasizes the need for a central university in the hills to rectify systemic disparities in higher education access.
