Pune: Students of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hostel on Ghole Road gathered at the Municipal Commissioner’s office on Thursday (October 10), demanding improvements in the quality of the food served to them.
The students complained about substandard meals provided by a socio-religious institution, particularly citing the discovery of worms in their food two days ago.
According to the students, the food served lacks essential ingredients like onions, garlic, and ginger, making it unpalatable. However, they tolerated it until the recent incident of worms being found in a dish prompted them to take action.
“How long are we expected to consume such substandard food?” the students asked as they spent the day at the Commissioner’s office.
This comes after a serious incident in August, where two students from the hostel died due to unhygienic conditions. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation initiated health check-ups and began providing other necessary amenities for the students.
Recently, Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale approved additional funds to enhance the hostel’s facilities. However, the issue of poor food quality remains unresolved despite several complaints from the students.
On Thursday, the students went to the Municipal Commissioner’s office to present their grievances directly to Commissioner Dr. Bhosale. However, they were unable to meet him due to an ongoing standing committee meeting.
Deputy Commissioner of the Social Development Department, Nitin Udas, stated that no formal complaint about the food quality had been made to the hostel administration.
He acknowledged that the food is provided by a religious institution, but assured the students that their concerns would be heard and appropriate action would be taken.
The students, many of whom come from rural areas, pointed out that they need meals that suit their dietary preferences. “We need food that we are used to, but instead, we get meals without basic ingredients like onions and garlic.
The other day, we found worms in the brinjal dish. Even after informing the administration, no action was taken. Instead, we are asked if we have come here to study or to eat,” one of the students complained.
