The Congress leader and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has raised doubts regarding the availability of hostel facility for girl students, connecting it to the diya-lighting celebrations held in Madhya Pradesh on the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ program held in Indore on Saturday, Gandhi said that he had an interaction with a girl student. Gandhi stated that the girl came to Indore from her village for education, but she did not get a hostel facility and had to opt for paying guest accommodation.
Rahul Gandhi Asks: Why Not More Hostels For Girls?
Regarding the problem shared by the student regarding issue X, Gandhi stated that the student had raised a question that while money was being spent on huge diya lighting programs, students were struggling to get reasonable and safe lodging facilities.
According to Gandhi, the student was facing difficulty not only in paying rent but also in uncertain living facilities while continuing her studies. He said that absence of appropriate accommodation might be the reason why some girls stop their education.
He also doubted about the prevailing housing allowance stating that this allowance is not able to keep pace with inflation and there is possibility of corruption in this matter.
He has mentioned PM Narendra Modi in his post asking the government’s stance on this student’s issue.
Diya Celebrations In Madhya Pradesh
Gandhi’s comments came shortly after large-scale diya-lighting programmes were held in Madhya Pradesh on September 17 to mark PM Modi’s 76th birthday.
According to reports, around 3.55 crore diyas were lit across Madhya Pradesh, with Ujjain accounting for more than 33 lakh lamps along the Shipra river ghats and at Mahakal Lok.
The diya celebrations were organised as part of the BJP’s month-long programmes marking the Prime Minister’s birthday. Gandhi used the scale of these celebrations to question whether similar attention was being given to basic facilities required by students.
However, there is no established evidence that the funds used for these events were earmarked for student hostels or could directly have been diverted to hostel construction.
Hostel Shortage Becomes Part Of Student Debate
This matter of accommodation was also taken up by Gandhi while talking to the students in Indore. Students highlighted various issues that have connections with higher education such as recruitment, exams, job opportunities, and other aspects of infrastructure. Lack of accommodation facilities for those students who hail from the rural or tribal backgrounds was also raised by the participants of the discussion program.
Accommodation can be a very important aspect when it comes to the educational expenses of those who are coming from cities to study. For female students in particular, accommodation can have an impact on their ability to pursue studies away from their homes.
This topic has been included by Gandhi in the wider debate of the problems being faced by young people in India.
Gandhi’s ‘System’ Argument
During the ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme, Gandhi also criticised what he described as a system that discourages students from questioning institutions.
He argued that students naturally ask questions about examinations, recruitment, jobs and the functioning of public institutions. He also criticised what he described as a preference for people who accept things without questioning them.
His remarks came amid his wider criticism of government institutions and the functioning of the education and recruitment system.