A group of college students residing in the SC/ST hostel here run by Adi Dravida Welfare Department staged a protest at the district collectorate on Friday displaying the poor quality of food served to them.
About 50 students refused to move till they could meet the District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan. Assuring time-bound action, Revenue Divisional Officer Sakthivel succeeded in persuading the students to withdraw the agitation.
Students blamed the poor quality of food and unhygienic conditions in the hostel on the inefficiency of the warden. “The amount allotted for us by the government for food is being siphoned off. Only a part of the amount is being spent and there are shortcomings in quality and quantity served to us as well. The food is smelly and unfit for human consumption,” students lamented.
Mr.Sakthivel who checked the food said it contained husk particles, and that appropriate action will be taken against those found responsible. Shortcomings in basic amenities and toilet facilities will be attended to in 10 days and damaged electrical fittings will be replaced in 15 days, he said.
According to a student representative, the inmates will honour the district administration’s assurance and wait for 20 days for things to get right. “If the promise is not kept, we will come out to agitate again.”
