Arunachal: Rajiv Gandhi University Female Research Scholars Face Hostel Crisis

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) currently has 699 research scholars, of whom 60% (423) are women. However, despite this significant number, the university continues to allocate only 53 hostel seats for female scholars-a figure that has remained unchanged for over two decades.

This persistent lack of accommodation has forced many female scholars, especially those from financially weaker backgrounds and remote districts, to bear the heavy burden of high living costs in Itanagar, Doimukh, and Naharlagun. Some have even been compelled to drop out of their PhD programs due to the financial and mental strain of living in rented accommodations for years.

Recognizing the urgency of the crisis, the Rajiv Gandhi University Research Scholars Forum (RGURSF), led by its President Tagru Talu, met with the Vice Chancellor (VC) of RGU today. The forum submitted a formal memorandum detailing the scholars' grievances and urged the administration to take immediate action before the next academic session.

"For decades, female scholars at RGU have struggled due to the administration's failure to expand hostel facilities. The current situation is unacceptable. If immediate action is not taken before the next session, we will have no choice but to initiate a democratic movement to secure our rights," said RGURSF President Tagru Talu.

The lack of hostel accommodation not only imposes financial hardship but also severely impacts research work, particularly for scholars involved in lab-based research.

One aggrieved female scholar shared her distress, stating, "I just can't manage the financial burden and my academic workload at the same time. Many others like me, especially those engaged in lab-related research, are completely hopeless because of the hostel crisis. Either we stay late in the lab and struggle to get back safely due to lack of transportation, or we miss out on lab work entirely because hiring taxis beyond a certain hour is financially impossible."

The RGURSF Finance Secretary, Kakul Doley, highlighted the financial and psychological toll this crisis has taken, stating, "Many research scholars, especially women from economically weaker families, have spent years living in rented houses, waiting for hostel seats that never come. This is not just about accommodation-it is about ensuring that scholars can focus on their research without financial insecurity. The administration must act now."

RGURSF has also emphasized the need for additional hostel facilities for male scholars, who face similar accommodation challenges.

The forum expects an immediate and concrete response from the university administration and the Arunachal Pradesh government. If their demands remain unaddressed before the next academic session, RGURSF has warned that it will escalate the matter through a democratic movement.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of RGU has assured the forum that resolving the issue will be a top priority and that efforts will be made to address it at the earliest.

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