Sonia lays foundation stone of girls’ hostel at Jamia campus

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a new girls’ hostel at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of a new girls’ hostel at the Jamia Millia Islamia campus.

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The new hostel — Jamia’s fifth — will be constructed with a Rs 26 crore grant under the general development scheme of the 12th Plan, which Jamia vice-chancellor Najeeb Jung said had been made possible only because Gandhi had “persuaded the government to pursue our case.”

The hostel will house 400 girl students and will have a number of facilities such as triple bedded rooms, gymnasium, dining hall, multi-purpose functional hall and recreational open area.

Gandhi said providing infrastructure such as the new girls’ hostel and modern education will help emancipate and empower women so that they can find a place in society and break barriers.

“A women’s hostel will create a sense of security among them. We have all been shocked by the violence that girls and women encounter on the streets and even in their homes,” she said.

She added: “The society at large also needs to change their mindsets and we must all be proactive”.