Soon, PU hostels to have reading rooms

Ishrat S Banwait

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

Panjab University has started working on converting common rooms of hostels into reading rooms. This will not only solve the issue of less space for students in the AC Joshi library, especially during exams, but also the problem of girls going to the library at late hours.

Recently, the girls had protested about not being allowed to go to the library at night, an issue that was cashed in upon by student outfits too. It had come to the notice of the authorities that girls were going elsewhere on the pretext of library at night. However, after the protests, the authorities had to allow the practice to continue.

The Vice-Chancellor has asked the Dean of Student Welfare to make arrangements for the same. This will include enough tables and chairs for the purpose and air conditioners in the common rooms of the hostels. As per information, the executive engineer along with the DSW is surveying the hostels to check the feasibility of air conditioners. The challenge will be to have enough ACs in the given electricity load.

The common rooms currently have coolers and are mostly used for the purpose of viewing television. DSW Emanual Nahar clarified that TV viewing time was limited and thus it would be managed. “Around four hostels have a separate room which will easily be converted to reading room. An arrangement will be worked out for the rest,” he said adding that while some common rooms are big and require four ACs, smaller ones will need just two.

As per information, the warden of each hostel is also to submit a report regarding the same to the DSW. The report will include details of the room which is to be converted, what infrastructure is already available and what are the requirements for converting it into a reading room.

DSW asked to speed up work on Hostel No. 10

The Vice-Chancellor has also asked the DSW to speed up work on the Hostel No. 10 for girls in the south campus. The work on the hostel is expected to be completed by the end of the month. On July 28, the university has invited tenders for housekeeping and cleanliness of the hostel which will end on August 21. The next tender to be floated will be for the lifts in the hostel.