University hostels dogged by problems

Lack of water, mess facilities, improper sanitation concerns hostel inmates

Discontinuation of mess facility at hostels of University of Mysore (UoM) prompted the students to take to the streets demanding for the same. But a visit to the hostel reveals several other problems, apart from a lack of mess facility that are dogging students at the varsity.

Inmates of the girls hostel, speaking to Deccan Herald complained of inadequate water supply as among the major problems that are affecting them. “Water supply to bathrooms of the hostel starts only after 9 am. This causes inconvenience to students, who are forced to attend classes late at times,” they said.

Unsafe

Absence of a mess facility at the hostels appeared to be hanging heavy on the minds of the students, especially inmates of the girls hostel. Sushma M, a second year post graduate student in English at the varsity said that they have an arrangement with a hotel that delivers dinner to the on weekdays.

“However, on weekends its rather a frightening journey for us. We have to walk more than half a kilometre to Paduvarahalli, in pitch darkness, for dinner, as there are no lights along the streets,” she said.

Inmates demanded that streetlights be installed along the streets frequented by women, as a sense of paranoia has set in among them. Sushma also complained of eve teasers frequenting the  varsity premises and demanded that steps be taken against them, keeping the safety of women in mind.

Maridevaiah S, post graduate student of Economics at the varsity described that the condition of hostels at UoM, ‘accredited with A grade by NAAC’, has gone from bad to worse.

“Last year, food quality was extremely poor. This year we have no food at all,” he said echoing concerns regarding absence of mess facility.

Earlier, rooms were allotted to students in the hostel depending on the merit of the students. “However, this year, we have strong suspicions that some vested interests have displayed favouritism in allocating rooms to students,” he said.

He also noted the pathetic conditions of toilets and bathrooms at the boys hospital. Improper maintenance and drainage has paved way for mosquitoes to breed. During the evening, mosquitoes are almost intolerable, he said. “If one spends a day at the hostel, it will be possible to know how bad the problems are. It is not a surprise if few students at the hostel suffer from mosquito related diseases,” he said.

Threats

Students of Post Graduate Mens Hostel, under the condition of anonymity, alleged that they had received threats following the recent protests staged by them demanding mess facility at the hostel. “Vested interests” were also trying to breed enmity between the hostel students, they claimed.

It can be recalled that the University has offered to pay Rs 33 per day for each student to arrange for their food, following protests regarding mess facility. “We cannot have a proper breakfast for Rs 33. How do they expect us to arrange for a day’s food for that sum?” he questioned.

While students at undergraduate hostels of the varsity have agreed to accept Rs 33 per day to arrange for food, post graduate students have not accepted it, he said.

Director of student welfare, UoM, Nirmal Raj, when contacted said that the mess facility would begin from September 1. “When we called for a tender to provide mess facility at hostels, there were no takers. After calling a tender twice, we have made arrangements now. We will start mess facility at the hostels soon,” he said. He assured that steps will be taken to sort out other complaints aired by the students.