Puducherry: Pondicherry central university students staged a novel protest near Mother Theresa girls mess here to express their resentment against many issues they face with regard to the food being served in the university mess.
Students cooked their own food outside the mess on Monday night, and hot porridge or kanji they cooked was served to students who had gathered to protest against the poor quality food being provided to them. Students raised slogans for their right to have quality food and shouted slogans against the university administration for ignoring their repeated complaints.
The protesting students alleged that the food supplied in hostels was of a poor quality and many students were having different kinds of allergies, variations in haemoglobin count and many girls have the disorder in menstrual cycles and even Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome due to the low-quality food.
Sreejith, a post graduate student said, “Many times students have seen worms in the food. One student saw a cat jumping out of the rice bowl and when we complained the mess caterer said, “just eat if you want or else leave.”
“Claiming rent free accommodation for the girl students, they have made eating in the mess compulsory and charged a huge fee. In spite being eligible for mess fee exemption, authorities have not published the eligible amount, even students with health issues are not given any exemption”, said another student.
“Apart from ensuring quality and hygiene of the food being served, the mess should be made optional. Give the students their choice, whether to eat from mess or not”, said Jazila Lulu, a student council member.
The protesting students also demanded to change the caterer and to form a mess committee with representation from the students. According to the university authorities, vice chancellor and authorities concerned will meet students to discuss the issues raised by them.
