The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Hostels not cheaper anymore

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Monday, Jul 28, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Hostels not cheaper anymore

Anasuya Menon

Students staying in college hostels and private hostels seem to be bearing the brunt of rising costs. The room rents have gone up and in most hostels increasing mess bills are reflected on the hostel fees.

Sarika (name changed) says she pays close to Rs. 3,000 as hostel fees every month. “The mess fees is exorbitant and the room rent alone has been increased to Rs. 800,” she says. The room is small and is shared by three other girls. “ Each one has to pay Rs. 3,000 for a room as small as that,” she says. The hostel has increased the maintenance fees too, she adds.

Most students feel that staying outside the college is a better option, as they need not stick to the strict time schedules of the college hostels. Many of them who share an independent house are also facing problems with increasing rents.

“I stay in an independent house at Saibaba Colony along with three other friends. The rent for the house, which has only a single room and a hall, is Rs.4,500. Along with the electricity and water bills and the Internet bill, we have to pay Rs.1,750 each every month,” says Anmol Vij, an engineering student. “A similar room in Saibaba Colony cost only Rs.2,500 a year ago,” he observes.

According to Semal D. Shah, another engineering student, though the room rent in some hostels has not been increased drastically, the mess bill has almost become unaffordable. The bill along with the room rent is a big amount these days, he says. In the case of students living in houses or hostels away from their colleges, the transportation costs become an added burden, he adds. “My college is 5 km from the place where I stay. Owing to the high fuel costs, the two-wheeler is becoming a costly option,” he says.

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