Unhygienic food in food courts : SPPU students stage massive protest

By: Pune Pulse

October  17, 2023

Pune: Students of Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) held a protest on Tuesday against unhygienic food being served to students in the boys and girls hostel at the main building of the university.

Speaking to Pune Pulse, a student of Pune University, requesting anonymity said, “Cockroaches were found in the food served at a hostel in the University on the night of October 16 (Monday). We had come together at around 9 pm at the hostel mess & waited for a response from the University administration regarding this, however, that did not happen. At midnight, the mess was locked. Hence, this morning ( October 17), a protest was staged at the entrance of the main building of the University where hundreds of students came together as in the past, several insects etc have been found in the food served at the hostel mess. The SPPU Registrar visited & assured the establishment of a Food Committee etc. However, for several years, such false assurances have been given to the students but no action has been taken yet.”

Another student of Pune University, requesting anonymity said, “From 9 pm to 3 am, several students were sitting at the hostel mess for an answer regarding the cockroach incident in the food. However, no authority/administration member came & at 3 a.m. the mess was locked. Hence, we went away. Today (17th October), from 12 pm to 2 pm i.e. for 2 hours, we staged a protest in the University. We demanded that a food committee be established for frequent food inspections. Also, the rates of food must be normalized. Hence, the registrar has given us a promise that positive action will be taken for these issues very soon.”

Rahul Sasane, a PhD student and coordinator of the Pune University Students’ Committee said, “Incidents of finding cockroaches, and plastic in food items are constantly happening in different mess of the university boys and girls. Today (17th October), students and representatives of different organizations came together and staged a protest in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office. All students should have access to nutritious food and clean water. These major demands were made at this time. If the canteen committee is formed within three days and the tender is not cancelled, a strong protest will be held on the day of the Senate meeting on the 28th.”

As per information, the following are the major demands of students:

·         Strict action should be taken against the mess manager of the boy’s hostel. Also, his tender should be cancelled.

·         A few days ago, cockroaches were also found in the girls’ hostel mess. The current tender of the girls’ mess should also be cancelled.

· The canteen committee should be constituted immediately.

·         How are all these messes running even when the tender period of all the mess operators has expired? Action should be taken against the officials for giving an extension without following the rules.

·         None of the chief hostel wardens as well as the rectors were present at the place of mess concerned on October 16. This should be investigated.

·         Resident Chief Hostel Warden should be appointed immediately.

Shreyas Vange