The Hindu : New Delhi News : Students protest eviction from hostels

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Students protest eviction from hostels

Staff Reporter

Room rent had shot up rendering accommodation in areas adjoining North Campus unaffordable

NEW DELHI: A protest meeting was held by the University Community for Democracy, a forum of students and teachers against the eviction of students from North Campus hostels in Delhi University here over the weekend.

The speakers at the meet raised the matter of the “forced eviction” of university students from their hostels during the last three months. Students have been asked to vacate so that renovation of hostels can take place with the aim of housing Commonwealth Games visitors.

It was pointed out that as an immediate result; unregulated rent had shot up thus rendering accommodation in areas adjoining North Campus unaffordable.

The forum said in a statement that is was critical of the role of Delhi University in the preparation for Commonwealth Games. The statement accused the university of gross violation of labour laws and diversion of funds.

It was alleged that students had been evicted without any dialogue and no alternate means of accommodation had been provided. The incentives of better infrastructure, sporting amenities and employment opportunities were questioned as was the preoccupation with “beautification” of areas.

The Ramjas College History Society and the New Socialist Initiative organised a discussion on “Beyond the Obvious: Interrogating the Commonwealth Games 2010” in which speakers from Housing Land Rights Network, Hazards Centre and People's Union for Democratic Rights participated.

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