2 days ago
Jamia Hostel Students End Protest After Food Safety Assurances
Students living in a Jamia hostel said their meals sometimes contained insects, worms and even glass pieces.
They also complained about undercooked rice and raw chicken.
Around 700 students use the hostel dining service.
After insects were allegedly found in chole, the students began protesting.
They wanted the food contractor removed and asked for safer arrangements.
The university agreed to remove the contractor and add female staff.
Students briefly stopped protesting but restarted, saying the food arrangement had not changed.
After another meeting, university officials promised regular checks and a hygiene committee.
The students then said they had ended the protest.
Students at Jamia Millia Islamia’s J&K Girls’ Hostel alleged finding insects, worms, undercooked food, raw chicken and glass shards in meals.
Around 700 students depend on the hostel mess, where students said food-quality problems had persisted for years.
Students demanded the mess contractor’s removal, protection from disciplinary action, female mess staff and action against hostel officials.
The university agreed to remove the contractor, provide an interim food arrangement and deploy female staff.
Students called off the protest Saturday night after assurances of food monitoring and a committee to examine hygiene concerns.
- Who
- Students of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Jammu and Kashmir Girls’ Hostel, hostel officials and the university administration.
- What
- Students protested alleged recurring food-quality and hygiene problems and demanded action against the mess contractor and hostel authorities.
- Where
- The Jammu and Kashmir Girls’ Hostel at Jamia Millia Islamia in Delhi.
- When
- The latest protest began Thursday after an alleged insect was found in chole and was called off Saturday night.
- Why
- Students said meals had allegedly contained insects, worms, undercooked food, raw chicken and glass shards, and that some students had fallen sick.
Students’ concerns
University administration’s response
Food quality and safety
Students’ concerns
Students alleged that poor-quality and unsafe food had been a recurring problem for years and said some students had fallen sick after eating it.
University administration’s response
The administration said the contractor had been changed and that regular monitoring would be conducted to address food-quality concerns.
Handling of the protest
Students’ concerns
Students alleged that the electricity was shut off during the protest and that an official manhandled protesters; they also said the same food arrangement continued after the first assurance.
University administration’s response
University officials said all demands had been met, while students later said the protest was called off after a meeting and fresh assurances from the Proctor.
Mess arrangements and cost
Students’ concerns
Students sought immediate corrective action, including contractor removal and female staff in the mess.
University administration’s response
The university said feeding about 700 people was difficult, described the mess as among Delhi’s cheapest at under Rs 3,000 per person monthly, and said formal contractor replacement would require a tender.
Key facts
- Hostel residents affected
- Approximately 700 students depend on the hostel mess.
- Reported food complaints
- Students alleged insects in dal and chhole, worms in idli and rice, undercooked rice, raw chicken and glass shards in vegetable curry.
- Immediate trigger
- Students said insects were allegedly found in chole during Wednesday lunch.
- Main demand
- Immediate removal of the existing mess contractor.
- University response
- The administration agreed to remove the contractor and made an interim food arrangement pending a tender process.
- New monitoring measures
- Students’ Mess Committee, the Provost and Wardens will regularly monitor food quality.
- Additional assurance
- Female staff will serve food, and a committee will examine hostel hygiene concerns.
Quotes
Jamia Millia Islamia administrative official
University official who signed the written response to the students’ demands
“All the demands have been met. The contractor was changed. As this is a government university, due procedure for onboarding would require floating a tender. An interim arrangement has been made. A notice has been issued to the girls formally… Getting food for 700 people is not easy. Our food is the cheapest in Delhi, under Rs 3,000 per month, per person.”
indianexpress.com
“We are removing the mess contractor with immediate effect. Demand no. 1, 2 & 3 (pertaining to immunity for protesters, deployment of all women staff, termination of current contractor) have been agreed to,”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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