Bengaluru: With parents unable to send money, Kashmiri students here have it rough

BENGALURU: The last date to apply for GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is September 26, but Yasir

Maqbool

Tak, a fourth-year civil engineering student at city-based Atria Institute of Technology, who’s from Kashmir, doesn’t even have Rs 1,500 on him to apply for it. It has been more than one-and-a-half months since his parents sent him money from Kashmir.

In another instance, Aadil Bhat, a Kashmiri student from a college in Hebbal, opened his 1-BHK house to three of his friends from the state, who were asked to move out of the college hostel due to non-payment of fees. “I am fortunate enough to have a cousin in Nasik, who sends me the money. My friends have no cash even to pay rent. So, we now share the little space we have,” said Aadil.

Ever since the Centre decided to abrogate Article 370 in Kashmir (on August 6), and the valley was put under a communication blockade, Kashmiri students in Bengaluru have been in distress. With their parents unable to send them money, youngsters studying in various city colleges are facing severe cash crunch.

“Once in two weeks our parents walk for five kilometres to the nearest police station and stand in a queue to use a satellite phone to call us. But the conversations don’t go beyond a minute. What do we tell them in such little time? I ask them if they’re fine and if there is any trouble in the area. By then, it’s time to hang up,” said Yasir, almost breaking down.

“As of now, we have been borrowing from friends to survive. They are understanding, but how long can we depend on them? I try to work at promotional events on weekends to make some money. But these events, too, don’t come easily. We are on the verge of an emotional breakdown,” said Mohammed Faizan, a computer science engineering student at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology.

Parents struggle back home
Many students say their parents in Kashmir, too, are under severe financial stress as their businesses have been hit.

“This is the season when apples are plucked from our orchards and our business thrives. But my father tells me nobody has been able to send apples out this time. The financial situation at home seems bad. They might not even be in a position to help us,”said Shahid Majeed, a student of PES Institute of Technology and Management, Shivamogga. “My father runs a provisional store and it’s been closed for two months. How will they send me money,” wondered Mohammed.