Safety- A Big Concern for IIM Students
After a case of open firing at IIM Amritsar Hostel, safety is a matter of concern for IIM students.
Over the past years, IIMs have been in the news and have made a mark in the education field because of their exemplary teachings, experienced faculty and placement records. No doubt, IIMs are best known for being part of the headlines due to their campus placements and salary offers. But recently, IIM made into the newspapers for some not so desirable reasons which lead to the rise of one question in the minds of the students: Are IIM’s really safe?
About 20 kms away from IIM Amritsar lies the Ashberry Apartments, which is home to about 165 students of the campus. Recently, the institute took over the media with a storm after a neighbour fired in the air because of some clash with the students, who were reportedly playing loud music late at night.
According to sources, services like the security of the students and housekeeping are in the hands of the service providers of the apartments. These decisions should be in the hands of the senior management.
Also having hostels far away from campus is a problem for students. Hostels of IIM Ranchi and IIM Amritsar are located far away from the institutes. Newer IIMs such as IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Bodh Gaya and IIM Sambalpur function from transit campuses of other institutes and share hostel facilities with them.
Apart from transit campuses, many of the newer IIMs had to settle with part-time faculty members.
Regarding the same, Asis Chakraborty, administrative officer (programme), IIM Ranchi says that there are about 21 guards appointed at eight blocks and one assistant warden are appointed at the hostel which is located 12.5 km away from the institute.
Started last year in September, IIM Visakhapatnam hostel is located three km away from the campus.
According to stats, most of the newer IIMs have hostel facilities away from the campus which make the students more vulnerable to such incidents. Since hostels are far away, colleges have to hire private apartments to accommodate the students. In such cases students come in contact with different kinds of people which makes safety a big concern for the institute authorities.