Deadlock over hike in mess diet rates may end today: Panjab University

Chandigarh, July 14

Deadlock between student organisations protesting a hike in mess diet prices and the Panjab University authorities may end tomorrow. After the talks between the Dean, Students’ Welfare, and the protesting students remained inconclusive on Friday, the authorities had decided to hold another meeting at 3 pm on Monday.

The PU authorities had hiked the mess diet rate from Rs 39 to Rs 46.25 and special diet price from Rs 44 to Rs 51. The student organisations staged a protest outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Thursday against the hike. They submitted a memorandum to the VC demanding a rollback of the increase. They had also demanded that the price of normal died be fixed at Rs 35 and that of special diet at Rs 40.

“We are ready to hear students’ demands. We can offer them various options — diet at Rs 35, Rs 42 or the recently proposed rate. If they want us to reduce the mess diet price to Rs 35, then they should be ready for some compromise on the quality and number of items,” said Professor Amit Chauhan, Dean, Students’ Welfare.

The students feel that the increase in the rates puts a burden on their pocket. “This is around 16 per cent hike in hostel mess diet rates, which is quite a lot for a student who has food in the mess daily. The prices have increased but the quality of food has not improved over time. The authorities should roll back the decision in students’ interest,” said Amarpal Toor, a student leader at the university. The university authorities feel that the rise in the prices is justified as they are providing a better nutritional value and quality at new rates. “We are hopeful that we will reach a consensus with the students and the deadlock will end after the meeting,” the DSW added.