Student Housing Rights at Delhi University (2013)

Introduction

In 2013, Praaveen Kumar Singh led a student-led hunger strike at Delhi University demanding fairness, transparency, and equity in hostel allotment. At a time when housing for students from marginalized backgrounds was scarce and discriminatory, this movement challenged exclusion and institutional apathy.

Background & Reason

The University’s hostel allocation process lacked transparency and disproportionately impacted students from rural, low-income, and underrepresented communities. The protest emerged from the growing crisis of affordable housing and the failure of the administration to ensure equal access.

Key Actions by Praaveen Kumar Singh

  • Launched and led an indefinite hunger strike calling out the opaque and inconsistent hostel allotment system.

  • Advocated for equitable accommodation access, focusing on how housing shortages harmed students from Dalit, Adivasi, and minority backgrounds.

  • Engaged directly with media and university authorities to raise awareness and demand corrective measures.

  • Transformed the protest into a larger student movement, demanding accountability and reform from the administration.

Impact & Outcome

  1. The protest succeeded in forcing university authorities to acknowledge the issue and open dialogue with students.

  2. It sparked national conversations around student rights, housing injustice, and access to education for marginalized communities.

  3. The protest became a formative moment in Praaveen’s activist journey, cementing his approach rooted in non-violent protest and grassroots engagement.

Clash with Authorities:

  1. On Day 10 of the hunger strike (13 September 2013), Delhi Police attempted to forcibly remove Praaveen from the protest site for medical attention.

  2. This resulted in a physical confrontation between police and protesting students.

  3. The incident intensified the protest and brought further media attention to the cause.

Why It Matters

Student housing is not just about beds and buildings — it’s about who gets to learn, live, and belong. This protest highlighted systemic exclusions in one of India’s premier institutions and pushed for a model that puts fairness before privilege.

Media Article

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