15 inmates of hostel for socially backward extort funds from food contractor, go on jaunt to hill stations

Nagpur: Around 15 students belonging to the socially backward categories are under investigation by the state social welfare department for taking around Rs85,000 from their hostel mess contractor and spending it on vacation in hill stations of Kullu, Manali besides undertaking expeditions such as river rafting in January.
Speaking to TOI, the students said two different issues — food quality complaint and the tour — are being clubbed to malign them while their tour was a lifetime opportunity to seek inspiration and learn new things which they may not be able to afford for years. “Our family income is below Rs40,000 per annum. None of us would be able to afford to visit these places. Our aim is to see Indian culture, landscape and people from whom we can draw inspiration,” said the inmate who arranged the tour.
A law student living at the hostel admitted that the picnic was uncalled for but it has been a trend at all such hostels. “This is a much-needed break after exams. We don’t get money for tour directly from the government so this is a mutual agreement between the warden, contractor and students,” he said.
Students alleged the contractor is conspiring now when they complained of poor quality and contaminated food being served them. “We never suspected he would use the letter he sought and the cheques in such a manner,” they said.
The mess contractor M/s Tiger Saoji Caterers complained among several other issues about money being frequently demanded by inmates on some or other pretext. An inquiry panel was set up by the social justice and special assistance department after over 100 students from its Manish Nagar hostel staged a protest demanding removal of the contractor on January 31.
Those on-tour had posted their photographs enjoying in picturque destinations on social media which led to discontent among others who started demanding money from the contractor and agitated when he refused.
The proprietor in his submission before the inquiry panel stated that the students had made a written application seeking the cash for which they were ready to forego non-veg food from January 4 to January 25.
In their letter dated December 24 last year, all the inmates had asked the mess contractor to hand them over Rs135 per student for a period of 21 days so that they could fund their tour after winter exams. The government allocates a monthly Rs4,800 per socially backward student towards mess expenses in addition to a monthly Rs800 stipend.
Propritier Prashant Irkhade said he incurs around Rs12,000 to Rs15,000 on one time non-veg meal. He issued a sum of Rs85,000 vide two cheques that was saved on chicken and mutton served on Wednesdays and Sundays, respectively. Irkhade attached his bank account statement showing the name of student who withdrew it on January 1 and 10. The tour commenced from January 11 for next seven days.
The student said the inmate who coordinated the tour furnished all the expenditures and bills after returning before the hostel committee. The same inmate had withdrawn the Rs85,000.
Contrary to Irkhade’s complaint, the law student said 35 students had preferred the tour to Kullu, Manali and Delhi. “Rest didn’t go as we were busy with further studies,” he said.
The tour coordinator inmate said 50% of the expenses were borne by the students.
The panel is likely to submit its report to the divisional commissioner of the department Siddharth Gaikwad this week.