Panjab University students are opposing the surge in hostel mess prices that will be applicable from the upcoming 2024-25 academic session. The meal prices had been unchanged since the 2021-22 session.
In 2021-22, the meal cost for a male student was ₹39. Now, with an increase of ₹7.25 per meal, it has been revised to ₹46.25. For students having two meals a day in hostels, the revised rates will lead to an increase of ₹435 per month.
For female students, with an increase of ₹7 per meal, the price has gone up from ₹37.5 to ₹44.5. Earlier, the per meal cost at girls’ hostels was ₹1.5 below that in the boys hostels, but now the difference will be ₹1.75. The cost of a special meal has been increased from ₹45.5 to ₹51.
Student parties are protesting the move. A meeting with the dean student welfare (DSW) has been held and another will take place on Monday.
Students For Society (SFS) president Sandeep said the normal diet rate should be ₹35 while the special diet should cost ₹40 per meal. In case contractors refuse, an open tender must be invited. He added that the contract details must be put in the public domain for transparency. Student parties will organise a protest on July 18 at the PU Student Centre.
{{/usCountry}}Students For Society (SFS) president Sandeep said the normal diet rate should be ₹35 while the special diet should cost ₹40 per meal. In case contractors refuse, an open tender must be invited. He added that the contract details must be put in the public domain for transparency. Student parties will organise a protest on July 18 at the PU Student Centre.
{{/usCountry}}Prof Amit Chauhan, DSW, said meetings are being held with students to find a solution. “A hike of ₹7.25 per meal after three years amounts to less than ₹3 per year. This is reasonable, considering inflation. The cost of preparing a ₹46.25 meal is ₹49. Thus concession is already there,” he said.
Officials added that the PU has been giving ₹10 lakh food subsidy to students based on their income and will continue to do so for the underprivileged. A proposal is being prepared considering ₹35 as the meal cost but it will lead to removal of some menu items. Officials added that the hike has been done due to inflation and to ensure that recent incidents related to deteriorating food quality are not repeated. As per sources, the authorities will hold a meeting with all mess vendors to reiterate that they shouldn’t cut corners for the raw material used for cooking.
Outsiders to shell out more
As per the revised rate list, a ‘thali’ (plate) at the Student Centre is set to become expensive for outsiders and cheaper for PU students. Earlier, a plate would cost ₹40, but the rate will be ₹42 from the upcoming academic session. PU students can purchase it for ₹38 upon showing their identity cards.
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