THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief secretary
Vishwas Mehta has ordered
rent waiver for
students and others who have not stayed in
hostels during the
lockdown period.
According to the order, hostel fee should not be collected for the period from March 23 to April 23. After that, only 50% rent can be charged from those who have not continuously resided in the hostels.
For those who have resided for a few days, daily rent rate can be charged.
The order has been issued based on the rule 20 (3) of the disaster management rules.
In the initial days of the lockdown, several students were trapped in several hostels across the state, without being able to return to their homes.
Also, there were reports that some of the hostel owners had been forcing students to pay their rent when many of the students and those who had been residing in working men’s and women’s hostels were left without any income to pay them.