Pratapgarh, September 12: Students at the Rajkiya Janjatiya Balika Ashram hostel in Achalpur, Pratapgarh, have raised serious concerns regarding the poor management of their living conditions. Frustrated with the quality of food and cleanliness issues, a group of students approached the district collector to lodge their complaints. Approximately 50 girls reside in the hostel, with 15 of them walking to the collector’s office to voice their grievances.
One student highlighted the substandard food, stating that the bread served is often undercooked on one side and burnt on the other. They also reported being tasked with cleaning duties, including mopping the school and maintaining the bathrooms, often under the pretext of receiving biscuits as an incentive from the warden.
The students expressed dissatisfaction with the breakfast, which typically consists only of poha, and noted that they do not receive timely or adequate meals. They claimed that the hostel supervisor is rarely present, only appearing during meal times for photo opportunities.
Concerns were also raised about the difficulty in notifying families when students fall ill, prompting calls for the warden’s removal due to her inconsistent attendance.
In a related incident, students at a girls’ hostel in Surat staged a protest on September 1, demanding better food quality, water supply, and living conditions. They sang “Ramdhun” during their demonstration, vowing to continue until their demands were met.
Deepika Kachot, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Bhavnagar, alleged that students have found plastic and cigarette butts in their food and criticized the poor water quality, which is only available for one hour daily in a nine-story building.
Students also reported facing harassment from boys when leaving the hostel and called for CCTV cameras to be installed around the premises for their safety.
A student recounted a negative experience with the warden when she requested permission to go home, stating that her complaints about finding insects in the food went unaddressed.
The quality of drinking water has been another major concern, with students noting that it sometimes appears green, leading to health issues. They claimed that conditions improve only when officials conduct inspections.
Currently, 1,200 women reside in the hostel, but water supply is limited to just one hour, causing further frustration as many floors do not receive adequate water. The hostel authorities advised students to manage their bathing and laundry within this limited timeframe.
The deputy collector assured the students that their issues would be addressed, leading to the cessation of protests the following day.
In a previous incident, students at the Dayananda Sagar University in Bengaluru protested on August 26 and 31 over inadequate facilities, including a lack of hot water and poor drinking water quality. The protests drew attention to various issues, including power fluctuations and malfunctioning lifts.
Students are advocating for improved facilities, better management, and a conducive living environment in their hostels.