Mild tension prevailed near the Gandhi Statue opposite the GVMC office here on Monday morning when more than 500 SFI activists and students staged a demonstration demanding that the quality of food being offered at hostels and other facilities be improved.
About 100 SFI activists were taken into preventive custody. But they were released later in the evening. Two student activists, who sustained injuries in the melee, were admitted to King George Hospital (KGH). There are about 32 hostels, including 16 meant for women, in the city where close to 4,000 students are staying. The SFI activists and the boarders of the SC, ST and BC welfare hostels have been demanding the improvement of hygiene apart from supply of quality food for quite some time.
‘Poor quality of food’
“Despite repeated pleas, we are being served served poor quality rice. The government provides money for quality rice, but the authorities continue to supply provisions of poor quality to pocket extra money. All our pleas appear to have fallen on the deaf ears as the authorities concerned have never tried to address the issues,” alleged SFI city president L.J. Naidu.
According to the protesters, egg is being served only on three to four days a week against the provision of being served on six days. “Each student is supposed to get at least 100 gm of chicken, but we get only two pieces, which is barely 25 gm,” alleged Ravichandra, a student.
Bad hygiene
Apart from the sub-standard food, The conditions in the hostels are pathetic, lamented the students and SFI activists. “The bathrooms are insufficient and the existing ones need repairs. They are not cleaned regularly and have become sources of various diseases. Girl students suffer from urinary track infections regularly due to poor sanitation,” alleged Mr. Naidu.
Further, the protesters alleged that the hotel roofs were leaking, making the rooms damp and resulting in water stagnation. “Last year, a student died of dengue and four have fallen victim this year so far. Viral and dengue infections have become common in the hostels and most of the time, medical check-up facility, which is a mandatory provision, is not available,” said Mr. Naidu.
Bandh today
As part of the protest, The SFI has called for a bandh on Tuesday. “We will submit a memorandum to the Collector,” he added.