By Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 8: Escalating campus violence is just one of the many other problems students living in Utkal University hostels have to put up.
The hostellers say there are other serious issues, which due to their
perennial nature pose greater hardships to them than stray incidents of clashes between student groups.
Issues like severe lack of infrastructure and basic amenities coupled with an indifferently apathetic administration, say hostellers, are driving them to their wits’ end.
“We are deprived of many basic facilities which affect us on a daily basis. Out of six boys’ hostels, only three have been provided with mess facility. We have to go to other hostels for having our food which disturbs our study schedule many times, especially during the exams. Another basic problem which affects us is the dismal levels of cleanliness inside the hostels. A proper inspection of toilets and other parts of the hostels will reveal the darker side,” says a final year student.
Another student who is pursuing his MBA from the institution says, “I live in Block VI of the boy’s hostel. We often face problems of irregular water supply which creates havoc. We are also not at all satisfied with the quality of food that is served to us. We would like to request the administration to pay some attention to our demands.”
Speaking his mind on the ongoing tussle between hostellers and outsiders, a student said on the condition of anonymity that there was a deep-seated hostility on both sides which the varsity management was doing little to defuse despite being well aware of it.
“There has always been an ego issue between insiders and outsiders. I wonder what the administration is doing to tackle this. Many outsiders enjoy political patronage and try to overpower the administration. This sends a wrong message to society,” said the student.
However, the administration, as is its wont, continues to refute the charges. Prof G K Panda, PG Central Council chairman, says, “The atmosphere is improving day by day. We are trying our best to provide the best possible facilities to our students. Some students may be facing some temporary problems due to the upgradation process. We are getting funds from the state government and are diverting it for the welfare of students. ”