RANCHI, August 23 : Hundreds of students at the Central University of Jharkhand staged a protest on Sunday against an increase in hostel mess fees, alleging that the university had raised charges without providing adequate improvement in food and other facilities.
The protesting students gathered at the university’s main gate and began an indefinite sit-in, briefly affecting movement through the entrance.
The students claimed that the quality of food served at the mess was already unsatisfactory and that complaints had been made on several occasions about stones and insects being found in meals. They questioned the rationale behind increasing the mess fee without improving food quality.
The students said they would continue to pay the mess fee at the earlier rate and would not accept the increased charges.
Following the protest, senior university officials, including the Dean of Students’ Welfare, reached the spot and held discussions with the students to hear their grievances.
Dr Anurag Linda said the earlier mess operator had been providing food at a lower rate and that the fee was increased after a new agency was awarded the responsibility of running the mess.
The university administration assured the students that their concerns regarding the mess fee would be considered positively. Following the assurance, the students ended their indefinite protest.
The students, however, said they would continue to monitor the quality of food and the mess fee arrangement.
The protest comes amid ongoing student agitation in Jharkhand over issues related to JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations, adding to a series of student-led demonstrations in the state.
