‘Not enough room’: inside the ‘dabba ghars’ for students in Delhi
Students at Delhi University are struggling to find affordable and safe housing in the Christian Colony area. Many live in cramped, poorly maintained 'dabba ghars' due to a lack of hostel facilities and high costs elsewhere.
Why it matters
The article highlights the precarious living conditions of students and the systemic failure to provide safe, affordable housing near major educational hubs.
The street from Delhi University’s (DU) Arts Faculty towards Vijay Nagar, a student hub, is dotted with posters advertising rooms for as little as ₹3,500 in Christian Colony.
One such room is where Rahul, 25, a PhD student, lives. He turned into a narrow lane and climbed an unlit staircase to reach it. Barely six feet wide, the room is typical of the cramped spaces in Christian Colony where students find accommodation at relatively low rents.
“This area is like a slum full of DU students. People live here only because they cannot afford anything else,” said Mr. Rahul.
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