Rajkot: Students residing at the Samras Hostel for girls in Bhavnagar staged a protest on Tuesday night, alleging poor food quality, lack of cleanliness, inadequate water supply and misbehaviour by the hostel warden.The protest was called off on Wednesday after the deputy collector assured the students that their grievances would be addressed.The students alleged that insects and other foreign objects had been found in the food served at the hostel. They also complained about unhygienic conditions and the conduct of the warden.A student, Kurpa Gohil, alleged that the warden misbehaved with students when they sought permission to go home. “We had also complained about insects being found in the food, but no action was taken. The district administration has now assured us that the issues will be resolved,” she said.Deepika Kachot, president of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) Bhavnagar district unit, alleged that students at the girls’ hostel had found insects, pieces of plastic and cigarette butts in their food. “The quality of water is poor, and water is available only on two or three floors of the nine-storey hostel,” she alleged.Kachot further alleged that female students faced harassment from anti-social elements when they stepped outside the hostel to attend college. She said there was a need for adequate security arrangements, including installation of CCTV cameras around the hostel premises.Samras hostels have been established by the state govt to provide affordable and safe accommodation to students who move to cities for higher education.Bhavnagar district collector Manish Kumar said, “We have called a meeting of all stakeholders, including student representatives, the hostel warden and the food contractor, to discuss their concerns and work out necessary solutions.”
