Students demand hike in hostel mess bills

Visakhapatnam: To highlight the pitiable conditions at social welfare hostels in the district, the students led by Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a dharna at Gandhi Statue near Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Monday.

The students demanded increase in mess charges from Rs 1,050 to Rs 2,500, immediate release of pending scholarships, serving food with quality rice and following the menu as prescribed. “The ministers and officials are telling us to study well to have bright future. But they provide Rs 25 to Rs 35 per day to the students in welfare hostels for food. Do we get at least a good meal in a day with this amount?” asked protesting students while speaking to media.

“There is no maintenance in the hostels. Less said, the more better about the state of washrooms in the girls’ hostels. It has been a tough time for us and unable to concentrate on studies,” said Chinnary, a girl student. Nearly, 200 students took part in the protest. Later, they marched from GVMC to the Collectorate, where the police thwarted their protest bid. The protest witnessed a mild tension as some of the student leaders were taken into custody.

It may be recalled here that dharnas and protests were not allowed in front of the Vizag Collectorate for several reasons. Later, nearly five students were allowed to meet Collector Pravin Kumar, who assured that he would look into the matter and resolve at the earliest.