Mysuru: A pilot plan to install CCTV cameras in the whole of Manasagangothri campus will be taken up shortly, said University of Mysore In-charge Vice Chancellor Prof. C. Basavaraju here yesterday.

He visited the hostel mess to check for the quality of food, in the light of cancelling the contracts for the provision of food to students in its hostel.

He told Star of Mysore that the 20-year old contract system had been scrapped and from Monday onwards (Jan. 8) the Wardens had been vested with the responsibility of running the mess including checking the quality of food.

He was reacting to a question regarding the installation of CCTV cameras in hostel mess too, following the demand from a few students and said, “Instead of just installing CCTV cameras in the mess, we plan to introduce it in the entire Manasagangothri campus on a pilot basis.”

He said that after the contract system was cancelled, the students were getting very good quality of food. “Our main aim is to protect the interest of the students. The food is being cooked in each hostel mess and Hostel Wardens have been entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining the quality of food. Only a few small changes have been made with regard to wardens,” he said.

Prof. Basavaraju said that there was stiff opposition from a few food contractors to the change in the system, but this decision was taken in the interest of the students.

Guests can eat hostel food  Guests of the University of Mysore who are invited for various programmes should also eat at the hostels if the situation arises, that is the standard we are looking to maintain, said Prof. Basavaraju.   

There is a marked difference in the quality of food served and we can easily differentiate it from the food served in the past. “On the first day, vegetable bath and in the afternoon rice and sambar was served. Today, pongal tasted very nice,” said a M.Sc girl student who did not wish to be named.

“Breakfast and lunch is very tasty. It looks like our food problem has been solved. They are providing us quality food. However, this should continue and it must not be a few days wonder,” said another hostel student Kavya.

M.Sc Chemistry student Bannur Gangadhar and MA Journalism student Nanjangud Keshavamurthy also expressed their happiness with the quality of food served.

The contract system was introduced when Prof. M. Madaiah was the Vice Chancellor. Ever since, the complaints against the quality of food had become common since the students felt that there was a nexus between the contractors and authorities. The students had even submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister recently in this regard.

One of the Wardens speaking to SOM here this morning on condition of anonymity said, “A faculty advisor has been appointed for each hostel and it is an honorary post. Since the contract system was in force, we had to mediate between the students and the contractors if there was any problem. Now, we are burdened with the additional responsibility.”

He said that HOPCOMS and Janata Bazars have been indented to supply fruits, vegetables and groceries and monthly payments would be made to them.

“The University has promised to provide extra staff to supervise the activities in the mess. In the past, the University provided housekeeping for cleaning and the contractors were in charge of maintaining the dining hall and kitchen areas. Now, the entire responsibility rests with us,” he said.

Asked whether this was not an additional responsibility forced on them and would they also be held responsible if something goes wrong, he said, “It is too early to say as the new system has just been introduced. We have to see how this system works.”