Pune: A few students from Savitribai Phule Pune University's Boys' Hostels, student organisation representatives, and members of the food quality control committee met the university's registrar on Friday to reiterate their demand for a centralised kitchen to ensure quality meals in the mess. They also said that the mess should be run by those with experience of providing quality food such as Saibaba Sansthan in Shirdi. The meeting took place a day after students shut down the hostel mess after discovering cockroaches and worms in the food provided to them at night.
During the discussion, students emphasised on persistent hygiene issues and accused the existing contractors of negligence. They urged the university to take immediate corrective measures to prevent health risks. The mess in hostel no.
8 remained closed since dinner was served on Thursday night. Students have been told to have their meals at the refectory or food malls for the time being. A senior official of the university said that the proposal for a centralised kitchen has already been submitted to the state govt for consideration.
Shivprasad Palve, a BSc (data science) student, said he discovered a cockroach in the soybean curry while having dinner. "I immediately raised an alarm, and we stopped the mess from serving food. This isn't the first time that insects or worms have been found in our meals.
It is disgusting how a premier institute like SPPU cannot provide its students hygienic food, let alone tasty fo.
