Students stuck in the hostels of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur are asked to go to their home by June 20. Also the students are requested to report back by September for the new academic year, as reported by the Registrar. He said that, “Of the total 12,500 hostel boarders, 5,400 were there when the lockdown began in end-March. Another 3,000 were transported home last month and around 2,400 are presently staying in the campus.”
This decision was taken considering the fact that the students can spend quality time with their family instead of sitting in hostel. A notice issued by the registrar read that, “Since the academic session 2019-20 has been closed and all academic activities will be completed within June 15 and the normal academic activities may only start from September, we request the students (UG, PG, research scholars) and project staff who are staying in the hostels/ halls to proceed for their home now. The institute will close mess facilities in all hostels/halls with effect from June 20.”
Also for the students performing the project works, are requested to continue at home as the faculty will continue to aid them by all means. He further stretched that the hostel service staffs need to have a break as they are working constantly for months.
“sitting at hostel” is a derogatory remark. Only handful of research scholars are currently in campus. Because they get scholarship, they have limited no. of leaves and there is no vacation for them. When other IITs released student sin Mid March, Kgp did not allow these people to leave. Now the cases are at peak. Students need to travel with high risk.
The inside story is a special favorite student flouted rules and simultaneously staying in hostel and in a rental flat near campus. When other students protested, it infuriated the administration. Evacuation notice came after that.