A group of Delhi University students will organise langars on the varsity premises after their six-day-long “hunger strike” failed to achieve the demands of implementation of the Delhi Rent Control Act and expansion of hostel facilities.
The group called ‘Right to Accommodation’ is planning to serve meals comprising hot rice, chapati, pulses and vegetables outside the Arts Faculty in North Campus.
“It will be something like the Occupy Wall Street movement. Students are fed up of the establishment’s unresponsiveness,” Surya Prakash, DU Law Faculty student and member of the campaign group, said.
Over half-a-dozen members of the group are camping outside the Arts Faculty, claiming they are on an “indefinite” fast. Sometimes, musician and orator friends who often try to attract audience for them join in.
“From October 9, we plan to cook food here. We feel that organising langars will help us connect with students better,” Right to Accomodation convenor Praveen Singh said.
He said the group had sent delegations to meet Delhi University Vice Chancellor Dinesh Singh, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Human Resource Minister Smriti Irani, but the outcome was negative.
In order to show their angst, they have put up their pictures at the protest site, holding them responsible for accommodation crunch and soaring rents.
For an estimated 1.8 lakh students enrolled with the varsity, there are 9,000 seats available in its hostels for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Every year, many students are forced to opt for alternative accommodations, which often mean shelling out more money.
“So far our protest has received a cold response. That is why we now have planned to do something different. People can have food here. They can sleep here too,” Surya Prakash said, pointing at the stake of mosquito nets lying behind him.