NEW DELHI, September 20, 2026: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday raised concerns over the shortage of affordable and safe hostel accommodation for female students and sought an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.
Gandhi referred to an interaction with a female student during his ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ programme in Indore on Saturday. The student, who had travelled from a village to the city for higher education, told him that the absence of hostel facilities had forced her to stay in paying guest accommodation.
According to Gandhi, the student said that considerable money was being spent simply to ensure safe accommodation, while monthly rent and the uncertainty of finding a place to live added to the pressure of pursuing her studies.
Gandhi said the lack of suitable accommodation could contribute to some girls discontinuing their education. He also raised questions about housing allowances, saying they do not keep pace with inflation and alleging that beneficiaries face corruption-related difficulties.
“Do you have any answer to that little girl's question?” Gandhi asked, addressing the Prime Minister in his social media post.
Education and student concerns
The remarks followed Gandhi's ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ interaction in Indore, where he discussed issues concerning education, recruitment, examinations and employment with young people.
During the programme, Gandhi argued that students should be able to question institutions and seek answers about matters affecting their education and career prospects.
The hostel issue has also emerged in the context of concerns about student accommodation in Delhi. Recent reporting has highlighted demands for additional hostel capacity for students, including women pursuing higher education.
Gandhi's latest remarks have placed female student accommodation, education infrastructure and the cost of pursuing higher education away from home at the centre of his latest criticism of the Union government.
