VISAKHAPATNAM: Inmates of the Andhra University Women’s Hostel staged a protest Monday at the Registrar’s Office near the Administrative Block against the poor amenities in the hostel. Right from lack of varsity buses to the number of students allotted in the rooms, the girl students protested against the authorities’ negligence for years together.
Around 1,000 hostellers gathered at the Administrative Block raising slogans against the authorities against the poor facilities. They alleged that though the university had eight buses, only three were in proper condition. They said that other buses either did not have drivers or were not in good condition. The buses are packed and some even travel footboard to reach the college.
N Kamala, a student from Arts Department, said that the water was being supplied only for two hours a day, forcing them to store water in buckets for the night. “The water issue was brought to the notice of the officials many times but it fell on deaf ears,” she added.
The students also complained about the poor quality of food provided in the hostels. They said that the hostel staff have been preparing breakfast with leftovers of the night, causing health problems. They also alleged that sometimes they found insects in the food. “Over 1,600 students are accommodated in the hostel which has a capacity of only 600. The authorities, instead of providing more hostels, have been cramming five or six students in a room meant for two,” said K Damayanthi, a hosteller.
Since vice-chancellor GSN Raju was out of station, registrar P Uma Maheswara Rao assured the students that the university would solve their problems at the earliest. It is learnt that the registrar promised the students to talk to GVMC authorities to increase water supply and ply all the eight buses by appointing new drivers. The registrar also promised to look into the quality of food at the hostel.