Rahul Gandhi turned the spotlight on the Centre's housing deficit on Sunday, directly asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi why the government has funds for festive Diwali displays but cannot provide basic accommodation for students.
The query stems from a female student in Indore who travelled from a village for higher education. She told Gandhi she was forced to rent a pricier Paying Guest (PG) room because no government hostel was available. To stay safe, she is spending lakhs of rupees, a burden that silences her studies.
"Many girls drop out of their studies for this very reason. Simply because there’s no place to live," Gandhi said. He pointed to the stagnant housing allowance, noting it fails to adjust for inflation. Worse, he alleged, the system is riddled with corruption.
This isn't just about rent. It's about a class of students being priced out of the country's biggest economic hubs. The Centre's response is expected to clarify whether any new hostel projects are in the pipeline for the upcoming budget cycle.