Surat, September 3: Students at the government-run Samras Girls Hostel in Surat staged a protest on the night of September 1, demanding better food quality, water supply, and living conditions. The students sang “Ram Dhun” during the demonstration and vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
One protesting student stated, “Apart from poor food and water quality, there are many issues. This protest will continue until our demands are fulfilled.”
This protest follows a previous demonstration on August 11, where students raised concerns about food quality, cleanliness, adequate water supply, and the poor behavior of the hostel warden. They alleged that the food served in the hostel contained insects and other unacceptable items.
Deepika Kachot, president of the Bhavnagar district unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), claimed that students have found plastic and cigarette pieces in their food. She also highlighted the inadequate water supply, stating that only two or three floors of the nine-story hostel receive water.
Kachot further demanded the installation of CCTV cameras around the hostel premises, citing that female students face harassment from boys when leaving the hostel for college.
Another student accused the warden of mistreating them when they requested permission to go home and mentioned that no action was taken regarding their complaints about finding insects in the food.
The deputy collector assured the students that their issues would be addressed, leading to the suspension of the protest the following day.
Students have also raised concerns about the hostel’s water quality, noting that the water often appears green, leading to health issues among several residents. They reported that when officials come for inspections, the conditions suddenly improve.
Currently, the hostel accommodates 1,200 women but only receives water for one hour a day. The hostel authorities have instructed residents to bathe, wash clothes, and store water within that limited timeframe.
Students expressed frustration over the cleanliness of the hostel and mess, stating that if water does not reach their floor, they have to fetch it from another floor, causing significant inconvenience. They also complained about the poor quality of food, with reports of foul smells in the kheer and excessive water in buttermilk, along with a lack of variety in meals.
One student lamented, “There are so many problems in this hostel that I could talk endlessly, but the issues never seem to end.”