Jamia's new night-out guideline for female hostelers sparks row
After Banaras Hindu University, now Jamia Millia Islamia is under scanner for trying to regulate the personal freedom of female students. Jamia has issued a new guideline that permits its female hostelers to go on a night-out only after they have given the hostel warden a written consent from their parents - preferably father. Unsurprisingly, no such rule has been issued for male students.
The students have only been verbally told by the administration about the diktat. The university hasn't yet issued any written notice or circular regarding it. According to the rule, the parents of all female students - undergraduate, postgraduate and research scholars - should send a text message to the warden informing her about the student's name, room number and the dates of absence.
Jamia has taken the measure citing instances of girls staying out on the pretext of visiting relatives, and their constantly endangered security. There is no such rule for boys because they can "handle situations on their own." The university is also very specific about getting the permission from fathers of students as it feels mothers can be easily manipulated.
Meanwhile, female students called off a strike, protesting a significant hike in hostel fee, after the authorities gave in to their demands on Wednesday. Jamia administration had raised the fee of women hostels by Rs. 1,300 this semester, quoting provision of additional facilities like gym, newspapers and magazines. The university, however, agreed to roll back the hike after the students staged a sit-in protest.
