St Stephen’s dithers on waiving hostel fees of disabled students

Disabled students of St Stephen’s College are still waiting for clarity on whether their hostel fees will be waived, as instructed by Delhi University guidelines issued in February.

Disabled students of St Stephen’s College are still waiting for clarity on whether their hostel fees will be waived, as instructed by Delhi University guidelines issued in February.

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The university’s executive council in November 2012 passed a resolution that students with physical disabilities will be eligible for full waiver or concession in hostel fees, whether in university or college hostels. A notification was sent out to colleges on February 7.

However, in colleges such as St Stephen’s, students still have no clarity on the matter. “I have already paid my hostel fees for the first part of the academic year. But I refused to pay the rest since we are eligible for the waiver,” said a student on condition of anonymity.

When students raised the matter with DU’s Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), it wrote to the St Stephen’s College principal. “We requested them to consider and implement the circular issued by the university,” said Bipin Tiwari, Officer on Special Duty, EOC, DU.

But students say there has been no official confirmation. “There is also no clarity on whether the money we paid as hostel fees will be refunded,” said another student, who did also not wish to be named.

The college has between 33 and 35 disabled students, approximately half of whom stay in the hostel. “Most disabled students are not well off,” said Tiwari.

The principal and the bursar were not available for comment. However, the dean of academic affairs, Dr Sanjay Kumar, said, “We will surely implement the university’s guidelines.”