College students who are hostelites at the Samuga-nidhi Hostel located off Canal Bank Road, Mylapore staged a protest on their campus on Tuesday. This protest was led by AISF ( All India Students Federation).
Students raised a few key issues that they say are not being addressed by the department.
One, the quality of lorry-supplied drinking water by Metrowater is not always good and that often, the supply is delayed.
Two, the quality of food cooked and sent to this hostel daily, from a central kitchen in Saidapet is not always good; students then prefer to eat out and have to spend from their purse.
Three, fans in many of the nine rooms that serve as dormitories do not function because repairs are not undertaken promptly.
Four, the department has not provided books and play equipment that hostelites can use to unwind.
Close to 100 college students stay here; over 90% are from rural areas. They study at different colleges in the city.
AISF leader R. Manikandan, who led the protest says that the community has presented petitions many times but no action is forthcoming.
This hostel is located off the Buckingham Canal on the road that ends at Thirumylai MRTS station. Dozens of huts line both sides of this narrowed road. It is meant for students who hail from economically poor, marginalised families. Since the hostel was recently re-constructed, the basic infrastructure is good.
- Reported by Parantharami Mani
