To meat or not to meat is the question but IIT won’t chicken out

Talks on whether to serve non-vegetarian food in the hostel mess began in February, after vegetarian students reportedly complained that they were “overpaying” for mess services. The house and mess secretaries of all hostels, accompanied by other student representatives, then met the director in April to discuss the matter.

“Till last semester, hostels served chicken up to thrice a week. Eggs were also served two-three days a week,” a student representative from Vindhyachal Boys’ hostel told Newsline. “All students pay the same mess charges. But the cost of paneer for example is lower than chicken’s. So the vegetarian students complained that they were being overcharged.”

He said it was then decided that the hostel mess would stop serving chicken. Eggs were retained as many vegetarians also eat them. He said the decision was taken “purely” on economic grounds.

For those who still wanted to eat meat, the institute proposed that an additional cost of Rs 40 per 200 grams of chicken would be added to the food bill. This proposal is going to be implemented after classes begin in the new year.

Satya Chaitanya, house secretary of Girnar Boys’ hostel, said the proposal had left the majority “unconvinced” as more than 60 per cent students in his hostel  are non-vegetarians.

“How could the management simply take meat off the menu? For the last five months, we have got no non-veg food in the mess. Moreover, the food is prepared in-house but as per the proposal, a vendor would now supply the non-veg food.”

Meat-eaters, however, have had options. Apart from the regular dining hall, students have two other options. Each hostel runs a night mess where snacks — veg and non-veg — are served.

Then there are kiosks run by Nescafe, Himachal Pradesh state government and private owners on the campus.

“Apart from these, there are three more canteens on the campus and one staff cafeteria where students are also allowed to eat. All these still provide non-vegetarian food,” Abhishek Arora, a third-year student, said.