Shortage of Space in the Hostels Becoming A Hurdle for Research Scholars in IITs

The Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay has asked the PhD scholars to vacate the hostels who overstayed for more than five years. This measure has been taken to accommodate the UG students. The institute is facing a shortage of space. The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Institute,Mr. Falguni Benergee, stated that the situation would improve once the construction of new hostels is done.

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Lack of infrastructure facilities is becoming a major hurdle for the hostel students in IITs. The IITs are trying to accommodate research scholars and UG students under one roof. At some IITs, research scholars are given an extension to stay on the campus. Only 18% of research scholars are given permission to stay off campus due to a shortage of space. These scholars were provided with house rent in addition to their stipend.

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However, some of the experts say that it is tough to predict the duration of research works as it takes three to eight years to complete the thesis. The institutes are asking the research scholars to leave the hostel after the period of five years.

At IIT Kharagpur, the students can pay the semester fee and can stay in the hostel for the entire semester, irrespective of submission of the thesis. If the scholar completes the period of five years and his/her thesis is yet to be accepted, these scholars will be given three-month fellowship and accommodation is provided in the guest rooms of the hostels.