Over 100 girls hostel students force officials to promise beds and curtains

Officials promise beds and curtains after Hassan hostel inmates protest over privacy, safety concerns

More than 100 students living in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Girls' Hostel confronted Social Welfare Department officers on August 19, forcing a commitment to deliver beds within a fortnight and window coverings within seven days.

The demonstration, organised by the Hassan district unit of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation, highlighted conditions inside the 110-student residence where windows facing the main road remain exposed because the administration has not installed curtains. Inmates have resorted to hanging bed-sheets across the openings to secure basic privacy.

Written appeals ignored

AIDSO district secretary Sushma D.S. told reporters that students had submitted multiple written requests for beds, cots, mosquito coils and window coverings, but officers had not responded. The lack of mosquito protection and proper sleeping furniture compounds the privacy failures, she added.

The protest unfolded in front of the department's Hassan office, where students handed senior officials a memorandum detailing the shortfalls. AIDSO district president Chaitra U.K. and vice-president Abhishek led the group.

Deadline set for delivery

Department officers accepting the memorandum agreed to supply beds to the hostel within 15 days and curtains and other listed amenities within a week. The timeline offers a measurable test of whether sustained student pressure can overcome bureaucratic inertia that left basic infrastructure requests unanswered for months.

The August 19 mobilisation marks the latest instance of hostel residents in Karnataka turning to public demonstrations when internal grievance channels fail to deliver minimum living standards mandated under social welfare schemes.

Source: The Hindu