The LPG crisis, due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, shows no signs of easing, now spilling onto Delhi University campus. On Wednesday evening, Miranda House’s gates echoed with protest as hostel students gathered with plates and spoons, launching a hunger strike against food rationing and the deteriorating quality of mess meals, which they said was due to an ongoing LPG shortage.
D Anugna Chandra, the Vice-president of the college’s student union and a resident of the hostel, says, “We received the notice that due to the LPG shortage, certain food items that consume more gas would not be provided for the time being. Students were unsatisfied with the nutrition value of the food that is being served in the recent days. For breakfast, it used to be parathas, omelettes which has been reduced to bread or a sole sandwich. The quantity of rotis was reduced and only 2-3 curries were being repeated.”
The main concern was that recent changes in the hostel mess had affected the meals served throughout the day. “Snacks were reduced to namkeen, which could easily have been fruits or eggs. Some of us are outstation students living in the hostel and rely on the mess food for our nutrition. The least we expect is for that to be not compromised on,” says another hostel resident, Minakshi, a second-year student.
Reacting to the protest, Bijayalaxmi Nanda, principal of the college, shares, “There was no formal or informal communication from the students prior to the protest, which could have been a better way to resolve their concerns. The moment the issue was brought to my attention, I got on a video call with the students during their protest. PNG is primarily used in the mess as opposed to LPG, and the same structure of four meals a day is being followed. If there has been any rationing, it is always done after discussions with the students. We have reached an understanding with the hostel student union, the hostel committee and the bursar, and an agreement has been signed. I will also be meeting them, and this should no longer remain an issue.”
For more, follow HT City Delhi Junction
