The Satya Niketan building collapse has brought the shortage of hostels and safety concerns in paying guest (PG) accommodation into focus, with candidates making better housing a key manifesto promise for the upcoming Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) elections.

Student outfits have been releasing their manifestos since September 12, with accommodation emerging as a common thread. They have promised new hostels, safer and regulated PG accommodation, and mechanisms to address students’ housing concerns.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which won three of the four central panel posts in last year’s elections, has promised new hostels for DU colleges, separate hostels for women students in every college and a dedicated student housing helpline.

Like the ABVP, the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) has promised stricter implementation of the Delhi Rent Control Act through regular inspections, holding landlords accountable and action against violations. It has also proposed a common DU portal listing verified PG accommodations, along with details of licences, rents and ratings, and a grievance redressal mechanism.

‘Core demand’

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) and the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), which are contesting the elections jointly, have pledged at least two hostels in every college. “It is one of our core demands. The first thing a student thinks about when they join DU is finding reasonable accommodation,” said Akshat Shikhar, vice-presidential candidate for the AISA-SFI joint panel.

The Association of Students for Alternative Politics (ASAP), the students’ wing of the Aam Aadmi Party, has called for the Centre to construct hostels for all students. “Our main demand is that the university should provide hostels. And in the meantime, it should bear the expenses of PGs,” said Eeshna Gupta, co-in-charge of ASAP.