New Delhi: Scores of women students of Jamia Millia Islamia’s Jammu and Kashmir Girls Hostel broke through the hostel gates and defied a 10pm curfew Wednesday night to march to the university’s Centenary Gate. There, they staged a sit-in over “repeated incidents” of insects and other foreign objects contaminating the food served at the hostel mess over the past several months.The protest, which continued till around 3am, came after students alleged that repeated complaints about the food had failed to bring any corrective action.Jamia, which is among the top universities in Centre’s NIRF rankings, termed the protest “motivated” and questioned its timing. Saima Saeed, chief public relations officer, told TOI, “An insect was found in food a few days back. If there was a problem, the students shouldn’t have consumed the food. And why didn’t they protest the day when the incident happened? Therefore, the intention of the agitators is questionable and it appears to be motivated protest.”Saeed added, “You will also have to consider that ours is the cheapest hostel in the city. It has a committee run by the students who decide the menu and directly deal with the vendor. This is a one-off incident, and still, we have agreed to the demand that the hostel contractor will be changed.”The students, however, said the latest incident was part of a continuing problem. Videos and photos circulated on social media from different days show insects in food served to hostel residents. In their written complaint submitted on Sept 10, they said they were “consistently being served rotten food” and had, on several occasions, found insects and pieces of broken glass in their meals. They also alleged that the kitchen was “highly unhygienic”.The students demanded immediate termination of the mess contractor, alleging that the mess was being run since 2022 without rotation despite repeated complaints. They sought an assurance that disciplinary action won’t be taken against protesters and demanded that only women staff be deployed in the hostel. They also sought removal of the hostel provost, alleging that she had reprimanded and humiliated a student and her mother after they complained about the food.The student, whose mother had complained to the administration on Sept 9 after an insect was again found in chhole following which the student complained of stomach ache, told TOI, “My mother was scolded for calling her (provost) directly and complaining about the food. I was humiliated and targeted for complaining. The provost said I can leave if I have so much problem,” the student alleged, adding that the provost had assured the residents that the matter would be taken up, but worms were later found in another food item, triggering Thursday’s protest.During the agitation, the students were seen wearing masks to protect their identities. They raised slogans including, “Gali gali mein shor hai, hostel wale chor hain” and “University sharam karo.”A team of university officials met them and promised that the mess contractor would be removed with “immediate effect”. Their demands related to protection from disciplinary action and deployment of female-only staff were also accepted.
