A group of students of Pachaiyappa's College staged protest on Friday on the campus, demanding better facilities in the hostels and mess.
According to P. Ravi, a day scholar in his third year, rainwater seeped into the dining area through the roof of the mess building. The quality of food provided in the mess was not up to the mark and drinking water was contaminated. “There is a lot of repair work to be undertaken. It is better for us day scholars, but the plight of students staying in the hostels is sad,” he said.
A postgraduate student residing in the college's hostel said that even basic requirements were not available. “The drinking water is not fit for consumption. There were worms floating in it and the water was coloured. The condition of the toilets is also bad,” he said.
Water stagnated near the toilets in the hostels, serving as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. “The fans in most rooms do not work. It is impossible to sleep,” said a student.
Students said the institution should take up a systematic review on whether the fee collected under various heads is being utilised for the stated purpose. A faculty member attributed the problems to the frequent change of the administrators. “Our principal is changed every now and then,” she said.
P.Kandaswamy, principal of the college, said students had put forth their demands to him and that the repair and maintenance works will be taken up immediately.
“The protest was triggered by outsiders, not really by our own students. We have cancelled classes scheduled for August 29 and 30 and then there are a few holidays. All problems will be attended to immediately. The issues raised are very minor and will be addressed.” Mr. Kandaswamy refuted the students' charge that sub-standard water was being supplied at the mess.
On where they would go after vacating the hostel, to facilitate the repair work, students said most of them would go to their native places for the next few days.
