CUJ Students Protest Over Poor Food and Higher Mess Charges, Two Begin Hunger Strike

Students of Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) staged a protest at the university's Manatu campus on Tuesday over alleged poor-quality food and an increase in monthly mess charges. Two students, Mrityunjay and Ankit, have also started a hunger strike as part of the agitation.

Undergraduate and postgraduate students gathered at the university's main gate and sat in protest, alleging that repeated complaints about the mess system had failed to bring any meaningful improvement.

The students said the monthly mess charges had increased from Rs 3,071 to around Rs 3,300-Rs 3,800, depending on the hostel. Despite the higher charges, they alleged that students were being served meals only twice a day instead of the prescribed three meals.

Students have demanded that the increased mess charges be rolled back, food quality be improved and greater transparency be introduced in the management of the mess. They have proposed a token-based system to ensure better accountability in the distribution of meals.

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Female students participating in the protest also raised concerns over cleanliness in the mess and the quality of ingredients being used. They alleged that adequate quantities of quality food items were not being used despite students repeatedly bringing the matter to the administration's attention.

The students submitted a seven-point memorandum to the university administration. Their demands include introducing a rotation system for professional cooks, allowing menus to be modified according to individual hostels, ensuring the use of quality food ingredients and ending the practice of collecting mess charges in advance.

The students also alleged that some of them had been threatened with removal from the hostel for participating in the protest. They raised concerns about the conduct of the hostel warden and said students should not face individual action for peacefully raising legitimate grievances.

The protesting students said the sit-in and hunger strike would continue until the university takes concrete decisions on their demands.

University officials attempted to persuade the students to call off the protest late in the evening, but the students remained firm.

CUJ Dean of Student Welfare (DSW) Dr Anurag Linda said the mess charges had been increased by around Rs 300 with the approval of the UG/PG Canteen Committee and described the hike as a temporary arrangement.

The students, however, maintained that the fee increase should be withdrawn and that the university must establish a transparent mess management system along with clear standards for food quality and hygiene.

The protest highlights wider concerns among residential students about the cost, quality and accountability of campus food services, with the students seeking a structured mechanism through which their complaints can be addressed promptly.