J&K Students Association Writes to CM Omar Abdullah Over Jamia Hostel Crisis
Hostel Meant for Kashmiri Students Is Occupied by Outsiders
Srinagar, Feb 18, : The Jammu and Kashmir Students Association on Tuesday has written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, urging him to intervene in the issue of a hostel at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, which was specifically built for Kashmiri students but has been occupied by outsiders. In a letter to Chief Minister Association said that each year, a significant number of students from Jammu and Kashmir enroll in undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs at Jamia Millia Islamia.
However, securing safe and affordable accommodation remains a major challenge for them. Many students, despite their academic achievements, struggle to find rented housing due to frequent denials by landlords. Those who apply for on-campus accommodation often face rejections, leaving them with limited and often expensive alternatives.
National Convenor of Association Nasir Khuehami said that, To address these challenges, a dedicated hostel for students from Jammu and Kashmir was conceptualized in 2012. An agreement regarding the project was signed between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the then state government led by Omar Abdullah, and Jamia Millia Islamia.
He said that, Omar Abdullah had also emphasized that the hostel would facilitate the integration of students from Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. The project was envisioned as part of broader confidence-building measures by the government and was initially slated for completion within 24 months. However, various delays pushed the project back, and it was ultimately scheduled for inauguration in 2017 after a five-year wait.
He emphasized that, Despite the completion of the hostel, the situation for Kashmiri students remains dire. While the facility was specifically meant to accommodate them, the majority of its residents today reportedly come from other states, forcing many Kashmiri students to continue struggling for accommodation. The consequences of this misallocation have been severe, with some students even being forced to abandon their degrees midway due to the unavailability of hostel space. The situation is particularly concerning for female students, who face greater security risks when living off-campus.
He urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to personally intervene and push for a resolution to this pressing issue. He stressed that addressing this matter would provide much-needed relief to students and their families, allowing them to focus on their education without the burden of securing safe and affordable accommodation.
He further emphasized that restoring the hostel to its original purpose would reaffirm the commitment to the welfare of Kashmiri students and serve as a crucial step toward building trust and confidence among the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
Students living in rented accommodations continue to face numerous challenges, including frequent disputes with landlords, high rental costs, and additional responsibilities such as cooking and cleaning, all of which negatively impact their academic performance, he added.
The government must intervene urgently to rectify this situation. There is an immediate need for an investigation into why the hostel, which was exclusively meant for Kashmiri students, has been occupied by students from other states. Authorities must take corrective measures to ensure that the hostel serves its intended purpose and that Kashmiri students receive the priority they were originally promised. The Association has called on Omar Abdullah to personally look into the matter and push for a swift resolution.
