Imphal, August 14 2010: Demanding reduction of mess fee for the five hostels of Manipur University, the Joint Hostel Committee, Manipur University has threatened to launch various forms of agitation in case the same demand is not addressed by August 18 .

Earlier, monthly mess fee for each hosteller was Rs 800.This was increased to Rs 1000 per month and a notification to this effect was issued by the Deputy Registrar on July 27 .

Even as the committee have lodged written protest with the Dean of Students' Welfare and the Vice Chancellor against the hike in mess fee, the MU authority informed the students that the hike was compelled by the rising prices of food items and other articles.

Speaking to media persons at the Students' Home, MU today, spokesperson of the Joint Hostel Committee W Riranjit asserted that the sudden hike in mess fee was irrational and contended that the earlier rate of Rs 800 per month was quite enough to maintain the mess.

At present, MU has five hostels, three for men and two for women.

Out of the five hostels, mess for ladies' hostel number one is maintained by students while mess for the remaining hostels is maintained by the MU authority.

Following the notification which hiked the monthly mess fee to Rs 1000, students of ladies' hostel number one took upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining the hostel mess, said one representative of the hostel.

Weekly menu including eggs, banana, chicken curry, fish curry etc can be comfortably managed with the monthly fee of Rs 800 per student, she said.She went on to ask how could the MU authority not manage the mess with Rs 800 per students while students can easily with the same fee.

Highlighting other grievances, the students said that there were no internet facilities nor potable water in all the five hostels.

Even as the MU authority has been collecting sports fee and students' welfare fee at the time of admission to hostels, no sports events were organised.

They demanded that the MU authority should stop collecting sports fees if no sport events would be organised.

Demanding reduction of mess fee to the former rate without waiting for protest movements from the side of students, the committee asked the MU authority not to treat the hostels as a business establishment.

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