Khaana-peena for a steal at Worli

The Sant Mirabai Government Girls Hostel continues to charge bright and underprivileged girls Rs 30 a year, a sum that hasn't changed since 1962

Khaana-peena for a steal at Worli

The Sant Mirabai Government Girls Hostel continues to charge bright and underprivileged girls Rs 30 a year, a sum that hasn't changed since 1962

The story is potent enough to turn Mumbaikars, especially those who pay fancy rents and students who shell out more than half their monthly pocket money on paying guest accommodation, a venomous shade of green.

But Kiran Latpate and friends Snehal Vasave and Vidya Kamble don't know what the fuss is about. The three college students have been enjoying a comfortable stay in upmarket Worli, a stone's throw away from the sea (where monthly rent for a 1BHK touches Rs 40,000 and half-yearly hostel accommodation charges go up to Rs 6,500), for an unmentionable sum of Rs 2.50 a month.

The Sant Mirabai Government Girls Hostel at Worli charges its boarders
just Rs 2.5 a month for stay, meals and gymming facilities (centre).
Pics/ Atul Kamble & Prathik Panchamia

The lucky residents of Sant Mirabai Government Girls Hostel located near Mahindra Towers, Worli, are also offered all meals, modern gymming facilities and the use of a computer lab at the 60 year-old institution.

But what perhaps makes the three young girls more deserving than a whole bunch of college students across Mumbai, is that the hostel with a history offers accommodation to young female students from middle and lower middle class families from Maharashtra, purely on academic merit. A spotless classroom track record means they get to stay here in peace for just Rs 30 a year, all the way from Class 10 or 12 until they graduate.

The three-storey hostel building was established on 16 February, 1962, and the yearly fee was fixed a meager Rs 30 by the Social Justice and Welfare Department. The hostel was especially meant for girls whose families earned an income of less then Rs 1 lakh a year. The sum of Rs 30 was to be paid at the time of admission, and the student could then enjoy lodging and boarding facilities till they completed their graduation.

The 40 rooms in the hostel house 120 girls, with each room accommodating three students. Cosy beds, a study table and a bathroom make up each simple room at Mirabai. The hostel mess offers the students home-cooked meals, and those in a hurry to get to morning lectures have their tiffin packed and ready to be whisked away by 7 am.

The rear end of the structure offers accommodation for boys. In fact, Kamble, an MSc student from Ruparel College, a native of Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, sought admission after hearing the enjoyable experience her brother had while living here. "I scored 79 per cent, which made me eligible. It's good to be able to study in Mumbai. I saw a local train for the first time here," she smiles.

While the girls are excited about an upcoming computer lab, some of them spend their evenings toning their abs in the in-house gym; the non-fitness freaks enjoy a game of carrom or badminton.

Meghalini Jadhav, warden of the girls hostel says they are doing their bit to help girls from underprivileged families, so that those belonging to backward classes make a career in a city like Mumbai. "It's to encourage them through education," she says, sharing that the current hot topic of discussion among the girls is the possible arrival of a television set. "The warden has made a request. We hope it comes through," wishes Kamble.

The hostel's maintenance is overseen by the Social Justice and Welfare Department which receives government aid for the same. Vasave, a computer engineering student from VJTI College in Matunga knows she is lucky but says she works hard at academics to stay here. "Students from the same stream or college are housed together so that they can discuss academic problems. We have a student who scored 95 per cent in the HSC exam. We are proud that she is our housemate."

How to get in
Admissions begin after the SSC, HSC results and last a month Students can stay till they complete their graduation, but lose their hostel seat if they fail Caste certificate, income certificate of below Rs 1 lakh, domicile, ration card, 10th and 12th mark sheet, medical fitness certificate and photograph required