Ahead of the 2025-26 academic session, the Kota district administration has introduced new guidelines for hostels and coaching centers under the Kota Cares Campaign, officials announced on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to ease financial burdens on students preparing for competitive exams in Kota while improving their living conditions.

Key Changes:

• No Security Deposit: All 4,000 hostels in the city will no longer charge security or caution money, which was previously collected and refunded at the end of the year.
• Fixed Maintenance Fee: Hostels may charge a maintenance fee of ₹2,000.
• Safety Measures: Installation of anti-suicide ceiling fans and mandatory gatekeeper training for hostel staff.
• Enhanced Security: Functional CCTV cameras, biometric attendance systems, and mandatory manual night attendance records for hostel staff.
• Recreational Benefits: Free one-time entry for students to Chambal Riverfront and Oxygen Zone Park.
• Parental Transparency: Hostels must provide proper receipts for all payments made by parents.
• Student Assistance: A Kota Cares helpdesk will be set up at the railway station and bus stand.

District Collector Dr. Ravindra Goswami emphasized that these measures aim to create a supportive and secure environment for students. “With the growing number of students in Kota, we have developed excellent infrastructure. We are committed to ensuring that students receive top-quality coaching along with safe and comfortable housing,” he said.

The move comes in response to a significant decline in student enrollment in Kota, dropping from over 2 lakh to 1.24 lakh in the 2024-25 session. This has led to a 50% revenue loss, with many hostels facing less than 40% occupancy.

Representatives from the Hostel Association, including Vishwanath Sharma, Sunil Agarwal, and Naveen Mittal, welcomed the changes. “We are committed to setting new standards for student care and will work closely with the administration and coaching institutes to ensure compliance,” they stated.

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