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IIIT Kota students recently received a mail from the Student Welfare Office saying that the washing machines installed in hostels will remain unavailable.
The reason given is that the existing machines are “domestic-use models,” their warranty is over, and the service provider is not willing to offer AMC because the machines are being used under heavy hostel conditions. The institute also says there are “technical challenges” in repairing them.
But honestly, this raises a bigger question: why were domestic-use washing machines installed in hostels in the first place?
A hostel is obviously a high-usage environment. Hundreds of students depend on basic facilities like laundry. If domestic machines were installed where commercial/industrial machines were needed, that is poor planning, not a student problem.
Instead of upgrading to proper commercial machines or arranging a paid laundry facility, the solution has basically become: facility unavailable. For an institute that is officially an Institute of National Importance, this is disappointing.
Students already pay hostel fees and manage academics, projects, internships, exams, and placements. Basic hostel infrastructure should not collapse because the wrong type of washing machines were installed and no long-term maintenance plan existed.
This is not about luxury. Washing clothes is a basic necessity.
What students need is not another formal mail explaining limitations. We need:
Proper commercial washing machines suitable for hostel usage
A clear timeline for restoring laundry facilities
Accountability for why unsuitable machines were installed
Temporary alternatives until the issue is fixed
Better hostel facility planning in the future
Calling it “frequent breakdowns” and shutting down the facility permanently feels like giving up instead of solving the problem.
IIIT Kota students deserve better basic infrastructure. An institute of national importance should not struggle to provide something as basic as working washing machines in hostels.