Under the new policy, the girls were asked to vacate the old common hostel, which also accomodated boys, and move to a accomodation on the campus of the premier institute.
"Let them gherao me. I have no objection. But we stick to our decision regarding hostel segregation," SRFTI director Debamitra Mitra said.
She said the decision was taken by the governing and academic councils of the institute. "We cannot do anything about it. It is our mandate to implement the decision."
"Earlier, boys and girls had separate accommodations in the same block of an old hostel building. After receiving the Information and Broadcasting ministry's approval in 2013, we undertook the construction of a new building for girls," she said.
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Mitra said the institute was supposed to implement the decision by the end of this academic session. The decision was ratified by the general council in July.
While the boys remained in the old hostel building, all but 14 girls shifted to the newly constructed girls' hostel, she said.
Mitra maintained that she was gheraoed by the students and could not go to her chamber unless it was lifted.
The students alleged that the director was not answering any of their questions regarding various issues including living conditions on the campus.
"Neither our demands are fulfilled nor is she giving any answer," they said.
Asked about the students' grievances regarding infrastructure problems at the institute, Mitra said she was ready to sit with them every fortnight to discuss everything.