Contractor accuses SC/ST hostel inmates of wasting food enough for 50

Nagpur: In another revelation, the food contractor at the state social welfare department’s Manish Nagar hostel has complained that the over 130 inmates have been wasting boiled eggs, apples, bananas, and cooked food every day.
As per his submission before the inquiry panel, M/s Tiger Saoji Caterers proprietor submitted photographs and videos of students carrying away large quantity of boiled eggs, fruits and food to their rooms from the serving area at the hostel. “Around 50kg of food is wasted per day as per our estimate which is sufficient to feed 50 people,” he told TOI.
The department has set up an inquiry of three assistant social welfare commissioners after students complained of poor quality and contaminated food besides accusing the contractor of threatening them. In the last week of January, the students had sat on hunger strikes at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan on South Ambazari Road demanding removal of the contractor.
During inquiry it surfaced that the students had taken Rs85,000 from the contractor forfeiting non-veg meals for 21 days and admittedly went on a jaunt to hill stations. On February 9, TOI had reported about the allegations submitted by the contractor.
On Tuesday, the contractor said he had no problem in the amount of food and fruits students take away as long as all of it is consumed by them. “But most of it is generally not consumed and thrown away or left to rot in the rooms. As per rules, the inmates can’t takeaway food and fruits to their rooms but have to consume them in the dining area,” he said.
The contractor has also alleged that some students have been boozing in the rooms, especially on Wednesdays and Sundays when non-veg food is served.
Speaking to TOI, the students refuted the allegations and again blamed that the contractor of trying to suppress their objections. “The liquor photographs are four years old. A senior inmate was suspended and it is on record of the department,” a law student said.
Another student admitted that some of them do carry the food to their rooms but in a limited quantity and for those not present during the meal hours. “Many of us study in libraries outside. The timings are fixed for serving food. We try to hold back some thalis for our friends who come late. If we don’t they will have to go hungry,” the student said.
They agreed that some food gets left over but it is not as high as being claimed.
The contractor alleged the students throw away the boiled eggs from their room window on the open plot adjacent to the hostel. “Some people have been collecting the food items as they are consumable,” he said.
Sources said the inquiry panel is likely to verify the claim by speaking to these people who had been carrying the left over food.