Why separate hostel rules in Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, MSU, ask girls

SURAT/VADODARA: What's good for the goose is good for the gander, they say, but not so at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) and Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) hostels, where boys have a seemingly more privileged living, while the girl residents are confined within the framework of 'hostel rules'.
A students' group at MSU raised a demand to increase deadline for girls to reach their hostels as students of some courses like architecture have to stay out late for project-related work. In both the girls' hostels - VNSGU and MSU - residents aren't allowed to order food deliveries at the hostel. But that's not all, they are also not allowed to move out of the hostel premises after 8.30pm in VNSGU and 9pm in MSU even if they are starving and want to buy food.
However, despite the boys' hostels being on the main campuses of these universities, they can roam freely till late at night and can also get anything delivered at their hostel whenever they wish at any odd hours, the girls alleged.
"Why are parameters different for girls and boys? Girls have to reach the hostel anyhow before 9pm," asked Drishti Agarwal, a law student at MSU. On Tuesday, Vidyarthi Vikas Samiti submitted a memorandum to MSU officials regarding the issue.
On Tuesday, Vidyarthi Vikas Samiti (VVS) submitted a memorandum to the MSU officials regarding the issue even as student leader Bhavesh Rabari of National Students' Union of India (NSUI) received complaints from the girl students and submitted a memorandum to VNSGU authorities demanding equality in rules for both girl and boy boarders in VNSGU hostels.
While Rabari alleged that VNSGU girl hostelites aren't allowed to get food delivered at the hostel, the situation is not any different in the MSU girls' hostels either.
"Anti-social elements sometimes enter the girls' hostel in the guise of food delivery persons. Therefore, we follow the rules strictly for the girls' safety," explained Yashodhara Bhatt, warden for the VNSGU girls' hostel.
Parth Pandya from VVS who had gone to make representations with girl students said that many girls preferred eating in dining halls or such facilities outside the hostels. "They get crowded in the evening and it is difficult to ensure that one has dinner much before 9pm so that they can reach the hostel in time," Pandya said.
Pandya and Agarwal both pointed out that students of disciplines like architecture, civil engineering, and others suffered the most. "They frequently need to stay at laser cutting or model-making facilities till late," said Agarwal.
Chief warden of the MSU hostels Vijay Parmar said that girls were given late passes whenever they needed it for genuine reasons and even during Navratri.
"For academic work, the dean of their faculties can make recommendations for the same. The fact is that most parents of girls staying in the hostel took admission in MSU only because the girl students got admission in hostels too," he said.
"The girls' hostel is in an enclosed area and security can be maintained while the boys' hostel is spread in parts of the main campus. We try strict implementation of rules but it is not possible," said Bharat Thakore, warden for VNSGU boys' hostel.
R C Gadhvi, registrar, VNSGU, told TOI, "We will look into the demand of students for equality in hostel rules for boys and girls. We will make required improvements and implementation of rules should be the same for all."