MU's lack of hostel repels female students

Mumbai: Female students who come from other parts of Maharashtra and outside the state to pursue their education at the University of Mumbai (MU) are facing difficulty in terms of accommodation, as there is no vacancy in any hostel on the varsity's Kalina campus.

Students complain that they are finding it difficult to live as paying guests in the city, which is why many of them have decided to look for admission elsewhere.

Vaishnavi Kate, who hails from Shirdi, wanted to do a post-graduation course from MU but later decided to try other universities, as there were no hostel facilities for her. “I always wanted to come to Mumbai to do my Masters and I thought MU is the best option to fulfil my dream.

However, though all the formalities related to academics were done, the varsity told us that there is no vacancy in hostels and we have to check for PGs outside or nearby MU campus,” Ms Kate said. She added, “Looking at the rates in the financial capital, I decided to check out other university as they were too high for my budget.”

Another student, Sakhi Gada, who wanted to secure a Masters degree in financial management from MU, had a similar experience. “It is really costly for students like us who hail from outside the state to afford a decent house in Mumbai. The deposit itself is around Rs 5,000 and monthly rent goes up to Rs 7,000-10,000, which is impossible to afford. If there is a hostel, it is okay as the fee is only around Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per year,” said Ms Gada.

MU, in its budgetary provision this year allocated Rs 3 crore for the construction or a 500-room hostel for girls at the Kalina campus. However, according to MU officials, it will take around six to seven months to complete the construction work and accommodating students.

Ground report

There are three girls hostel on the Kalina campus - M.D.K. Karve Girls Hostel, Pandita Ramabai Girls Hostel and Savitribai Phule Girls Hostel.

Hostel fees, according MU’s official website, starts from Rs 1,100 for per term year. So for an entire year it starts from Rs 2,200 excluding electricity charges, mess depreciation charges, money seposits and lock deposits.

The students are allowed to stay in the hostel till the last day of the examinations.