IIIT-Basara students deplore hostel food

Basara: The threat of food poisoning to the students of IIIT at Basara is looming large as the food being served in all the three messes is of substandard quality. Students were reportedly threatened of dire consequences like failing in practicals and denying placements if they leak about the low-quality food to the media.

ABVP leader Manoj said the students are getting health problems due to the low quality food and has appealed the IIIT authorities to extend quality food to students at the hostel messes. Similar appeal was made by AISF leader Bhaskar.

He said, on account of the substandard food quality, many students avoid eating food at any of the college mess. It would mean savings for the contractor. The government incurs an expenditure of Rs 78 per head towards mess charges.

He alleged that half-cooked rice, rotten vegetables, watery dal and curd, chapattis without curry, gravy without chicken, preparing lemon rice with yesterday’s leftover rice, using substandard edible oil and low quality meal makers available in the market in the preparation of food constitute a greater part of the students’ menu.

It was complained that the contractor avoided serving coffee or tea and milk and biscuits to students to increase the profitability.

There are about 6,000 students in IIIT, Basara. While 1,000 were listed under the Marwel mess, 2,000 were enlisted under the Telangana mess and the remaining 3,000 students were eating in SS Mess. The contractor is reported to be deliberately avoiding cooking gherkins and lady finger curry since their prices are high in the market.

Deviating from the menu, the contractor serving the curry prepared out of bottle gourd, which is not tender. Butter milk served in outside hotels is far better than the watery curd served to students at any of the messes. Though it was mandatory to serve eggs to students daily, they are being served only twice a week.

Use of substandard oil sometimes causes food-poisoning to students. But the students are reported treated clandestinely. The students were not able to voice their protest since it is stifled by threats like failing in practical exams and denial of placements, Manoj said.

Previous day’s leftover rice is being served as zeera rice, lemon rice. Breakfast served to students – Idli or Mysore Bajji – sans peanut chutney. Instead of peanut chutney, the contractor is serving diluted chutney of roasted gram.

Use of substandard quality of rice, pulses, oils and deviation from menu, purchasing low-cost and rotten vegetables and such other practices by the catering contractor is playing havoc with the lives of students.