A special surprise for the female students, on International Women’s Day from University of Mumbai (MU), University has decided to remove the rule which prohibited female students from going out of the hostels at night. The new rule states that both male and female students be allowed to step out of their hostels after 11 pm.
Sanjay Deshmukh, Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University wrote to the students that from Wednesday onwards there will be no discrimination with female students who live in the hostel and stay out late at night. The rules will be equal for men and women who stay at the University hostels.
Reportedly, he will release a press note regarding the same by evening for the media. The Women’s Union Mumbai University was supposed to hold a protest against the regressive rules against female students at the hostels and libraries on March 8.
Over 200 women students who stay in the hostel went to the Women Development Cell of the University and many students unions from different colleges and departments too joined in.
According to the rules, women had a limit on passes for the night out but for boys it was different. Now with the new implementations, male and female both can go out late at night but have to sign an undertaking of their own responsibility. Students have to tell the authorities and carry an identity card with them when they are out.
Regarding the library access which was previously accessible to boys 24/7 and till 10 pm for women will close down by 11 pm for all. Students are hoping for a new change in library timings as well.
InUth asked the students about the safety at the campus and they had mixed views on the issue. Chetana Shinde, a student of M.phil course said, “My friends stay in the hostel and it’s unfair to have different rules. I understand there are safety issues at the campus and it’s good for women but safety should be there even in the library if women want to study late.”
Another student Suhas Rupanawar said, “The campus is big and security is an issue but giving equal rights is also needed especially when you are imposing rules. It’s good that they are asking for it and rules should change if they are harsh for females.”
Rinu Gupta who comes to study with her friend at the library says, “We come in the morning so that by evening when the campus is vacant, we can leave by that time. The campus should be safe and there is no doubt about security here but sometimes women need more safety and rules are for their own good but it should be same for both the gender. “
Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), President in Mumbai, Rohit Chandode said, “We were working on it and after so much resistance from all students they agreed soon. Deshmukh sir will send a release about it soon.”
