Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Aug 10: The inmates of the Post-matriculate Hostel for Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes students at Nantoorpadav in the city resorted to hunger strike as a mark of protest against the lack of facilities in the hostel, on Sunday August 9, morning to evening.

The reporters visiting the hostel saw that an underground drainage pipe near the hostel had become dysfunctional and the area, besides giving a nauseating stench, was full of thorny shrubs and other vegetation that can be fertile breeding ground for mosquitoes. The students consumed food only after the supervisor of the hostel, Ganesh Nayak, visited them and promised to solve the problems within a week.

One of the students, Prashant, said that the inmates are not being provided proper food and that stones are found in the rice served to them. As food is being prepared by using outdated materials, health of the students is getting adversely affected, he complained. He also stated that the supervisor has been threatening the students not to file complaint with the higher ups. He also harasses the students, the students complained.

The hostel, which can accommodate only 104 students, is housing 160 students at present. There are no enough toilets and bath rooms. Switch boards have been dangerously dangling out and students are forced to sleep wherever there is space. During examination time, the students find it hard to even study, another student said.

Another student said, they are not being provided with mosquito nets and the supervisor visits the hostel only once in four days.

Dalit Students Union district chief convener Ganesh, who led the protestors, complained that the students of the hostel have not been getting their scholarships promptly and that the officials have been giving evasive replies when queried. He said that the taluk and district social welfare officials have failed to act upon the complaint about the problems, made to them a month back. Ganesh demanded for the immediate suspension of the two supervisors, who are responsible for the problems in the hostel. He wanted the additional students accommodated in the hostel, to be given alternative accommodation. He threatened to lock up the office of the district social welfare officer if the problems of the students are not sorted out within two days.

Leader of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkar), Jagadish, was present.