After having spent almost a year in a makeshift hostel, male students at the University of Mumbai are now having to sleep on an empty stomach. This is because the contract of the operator running the sole mess has ended recently.
In June 2017, close to 80 students, including masters and doctoral students, residing in the Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil (KBP) Boys Hostel at the varsity's Kalina campus, were shifted to a makeshift hostel — Annabhau Sathe. The students were promised that the accommodation would 'only be temporary' and that the work of renovating their original hostel building would be complete within 6 months. A year later, nothing has changed and the students continue to live in the fabricated hostel.
After being shifted to the fabricated hostel, students atleast had access to basic meals. A few days ago, the makeshift mess shut down as the varsity terminated the contract with the existing service provider. Ever since, hostelites are struggling to get food, sometimes having to sleep on an empty stomach. "The mess has abruptly shut and we have nowhere to go. Most of us come from really poor families and cannot afford to pay for food everyday. Despite several requests, the University has not started the mess and many of us are skipping meals everyday," said an MPhil scholar on the condition of anonymity.
Students said that they would come out and protest if the mess is not restored soon. "We are already living in pathetic conditions in the fabricated hostel. And now, the University has denied us the basic right to food. We will not tolerate this," said a doctoral student.
Dr Santosh Gite, warden of the hostel, said: "The mess contract has recently ended and the University is conducting the tendering process to appoint a new contractor. We have asked the Garware Canteen to provide food to students until the mess is restored."
