At Goa University hostel, girls feel discriminated TNN | Aug 30, 2013, 01.03 AM IST
PANAJI: Education may be a great equalizer, but at the state's university hostels, equality is a far-fetched dream. Double-standards or protective discrimination (call it as you see it) appears to be the rule on campus. Curfew at the girls' hostel is a strict 8pm, failing which, the student has to face a barrage of questions from the security guard along with the rigmarole of signing a late register and having to call a "rarely present" warden and explain one's predicament. The grass appears to be greener on the other side, down at the boys' hostel, where male students are free to traipse in and out as they please. "Life is good here. We have complete freedom. There is no warden here and we can go anywhere at anytime," said Ritesh Naik, a male hostel resident at the university. University hostel rules (available on the university website) include regulations that are meant exclusively for female students. Only female students are required to submit at the beginning of the year a list of residences of persons whom they are allowed to stay with. This has to be signed by the students' parents. "This is a huge campus and security issues, particularly for our female students is a major concern. If girl students want to work in laboratories, they can avail of their passes from their guides (valid up to 12pm). We have a special responsibility when it comes to girls," Goa University registrar Vijayendra Kamat said. The students are not happy with the explanation. "If security was really an issue, why don't the authorities fortify the security on campus, instead of keeping the women under lock and key?" hostel resident Reena Dias asked. "The rules are totally unfair. The curfew of 8pm would be acceptable if it was applicable to all, irrespective of their gender. Why should there be separate rules for male and female students?" asked Fiona Menezes, who formerly stayed at the hostel. Female hostel residents, unlike their male counterparts, are not allowed to spend a night outside the hostel without a written request from the parent or local guardian, Menezes added. Female students have the allowance of a night pass which is valid up to midnight. "If we do not make it in time, we have to pay a fee of Rs 25 for each day we are away," said hostel resident Arti Shirodkar. The fee, she said, has to be paid through the means of a challan at the bank, making the process even more tedious. "The warden is supposed to stay on the premises, but she is rarely available. There was a case when a girl fainted after curfew at the hostel. The warden, as usual, was not around and the security guard instead of assisting us in getting her medical attention did not even allow her to leave the premises. In fact, he created a hassle when her parents came to collect her that night," Shirodkar said. Timing is not the only issue. Female hostel residents complain that if security is the reason for the early curfew, then there is a lot more that needs to done. "There is one guard to protect a hostel of over 200 inmates. We do not feel safe. Hostel residents have complained of unknown men getting past the security and entering the hostel," said Dias. Not everyone is complaining though. Some female hostel residents think it is fine for their male counterparts to not have restrictions because "they are boys", as long as their own curfew is extended by an hour. (Names changed to protect identity)
