Sheikhpura, Aug 4: Students of Government Engineering College at Wajidpur in Bihar’s Sheikhpura district staged a protest on Tuesday, alleging that the food and snacks served at the institute’s mess were of poor quality.
The students boycotted breakfast and lunch and sat outside the mess as part of a hunger strike, demanding immediate improvement in the quality of meals provided on the campus.
According to students and local accounts, dissatisfaction over the food served during breakfast intensified the protest.
Idli was reportedly included in the morning meal, but several students refused to eat it, following which they gathered near the mess and raised slogans against the alleged poor food quality.
The demonstration took place despite the college remaining officially closed on account of the gazetted Chehlum holiday.
Videos circulating from the campus showed students expressing their dissatisfaction and calling for action by the college administration.College Principal Anil Singh Yadav said he was away from the headquarters when the protest took place but had received information about the students’ complaints.
He said that he would visit the institute on Wednesday and hold discussions with the students and the mess management to address the issue and work towards a long-term solution.
The principal also indicated that complaints related to the mess had been raised earlier. He added that the present administration had assumed charge at the institute only around ten days ago.Meanwhile, some local residents suggested that internal differences within the institution could also be contributing to the unrest, although the students’ protest was primarily focused on the quality of food served in the mess.
The college administration is expected to review the matter after discussions with students and the mess operator.
