BANGALORE: Hostel inmates of Bangalore University (BU) now have reason to smile. Soon, the hostel menu wi l l n o t have the same, monotonous ‘anna sambar’ all the time. The university has decided to serve food according to a dietician’s choice, and so, the meals will now be healthy as well as tasty.
There are seven hostels officially run by BU. Hostelers are served rice, sambar and, sometimes chapatis, for lunch and dinner regularly. A student from a girls’ hostel in Central College said that the sambar tastes the same all month, and one has to literally hunt for vegetables in it. “We have the same food without any choice. We cannot afford to eat out everyday,” a student told Expresso.
When contacted, BU Vice-Chancellor Dr AN Prabhudeva said that a Diet Committee, headed by nutrition specialists, will be constituted in each hostel. The committees will include hostel wardens and student representatives on a rotational basis and will examine the food quality.
“We will not only improve the quality of the existing menu, but will include food rich in proteins, calcium and carbohydrates.
We will include egg, vegetables and cereals,” the VC said. The committees are expected to be formed in the next 15 days.
Dr Prabhudeva said that house-officiallyping committees will also be constituted in all hostels which will be in-charge of the hostels’ maintenance.
“We will be calling for a tender soon from housekeeping agencies. A sum of Rs 25,000 will be allotted as maintenance fund for each hostel with immediate effect,” he added.
The VC said that they are constructing four new hostels, two each at Jnana Bharati and at Central College campuses.
Each hostel will have a capacity not exceeding 300 rooms. “There will be 1,200 rooms which can accommodate 2,400 students,” he said, adding that the foundation laying ceremony will be held in the next 15 days.