Tension prevailed on the IIIT Nuzvid campus, run by Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) with students staging dharna against lack of quality and quantity of food served in the mess on Thursday.
Unmindful of the scorching heat nearly 4,000 students 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 quantity being supplied to them.
Vexed with the apathetic attitude of the mess management, students raised slogans and demanded the RGUKT to cancel the catering contract awarded to Marvel Mess. Students alleged that mess management was cooking food with rotten vegetables and providing insufficient quantity. A few complained that unhygienic conditions prevailed in the mess and at times unbearable stench enveloped the mess premises.
“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 one mess was catering to 4,000 students. Since then, quality of food has gone for a toss, said Narsimha Raju,” a student.
Students avoided breakfast and lunch and mild tension prevailed on the campus. Revenue and police officials had to arrive at the campus to bring situation under control.
RGUKT Nuzvid Campus incharge Director K. Hanumantha Rao said that the mess catering contract was awarded to three private caterers on the campus. Admitting that there were complaints from students against Marvel Mess in the past, Mr. Rao said that 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.
