Tension prevailed at the IIIT Nuzvid campus, run by Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) with students staging dharna for supply of quality and sufficient food in the mess on Thursday.
Unmindful of the scorching heat, nearly 4,000 students, including females boycotted their classes and staged demonstration at Marvel Mess near hospital at P1 block on the campus. Of late, students have been complaining about poor quality and insufficient food being supplied to students.
Vexed with the apathetic attitude of the mess management, students raised slogans and demanded RGUKT to cancel the catering contract awarded to Marvel Mess. Students alleged that the mess management was cooking food with rotten vegetables and providing insufficient food. A few complained that unhygienic conditions prevailed in the mess and at times an unbearable stench enveloped the mess.
“In all, nearly 7,000 students pursue different courses on the campus. Earlier, there used to be one mess for every 1,000 students but now only one mess is catering to 4,000 students. Since then, the quality of food has gone for a toss,” said Narsimha Raju, a student.
Students avoided breakfast and lunch and mild tension prevailed in the campus. Revenue and police officials had to arrive at the campus to control the situation.
RGUKT Nuzvid Campus in-charge Director K. Hanumantha Rao said the mess catering contract was awarded to three private caterers in the campus. Admitting that there were complaints from students against Marvel Mess in the past, Mr. Rao said the mess contract was awarded to cook food for 4,000 students everyday. “We have now decided to reduce the mess contract of Marvel Mess to 2,500 students. Another caterer has been issued contract to cook food for 1,500 students. If Marvel Mess fails to fall in line, the catering contract with the mess will be terminated,” said Mr. Rao.
In all, nearly 7,000 students pursue different courses on the campus. Earlier, there used to be one mess for every 1,000 students but now only one mess is catering to 4,000 students. Since then, quality of food has gone for a toss
Narsimha Raju
Student
