Architecture students protest

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, AUG. 25. Without proper drinking water facilities at their residential complex and a soaring food bill after a recent increase in mess rates, students of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), went on a protest strike on Thursday with all academic activity coming to a virtual standstill in the School.

As a result of the increase in the mess charges, the students alleged that they had not been dining at the mess for nearly a month. Majority of the sufferers are the 350 hostel residents who said the School authorities had been charging an annual deposit of Rs. 7,000 apart from the mess bill in the name of paying salaries to mess employees.

Further, the students said SPA residential complex at Maharanibagh had not been receiving proper water supply with only one tap connected to the MCD pipeline. As far as drinking water was concerned, all the water coolers in the hostel have not been working since past five years. Despite repeated requests, the students said, authorities had not taken any steps to improve things.

On the deposit of Rs. 7,000 for paying mess employees, students said, SPA authorities claim they take care of the salaries of 75 per cent employees whereas the remainder 25 per cent were paid from the deposits made by students. Students, however, said their calculations showed that for 25 per cent employees the deposit per student worked out to Rs. 2604.

Charging the School authorities with financial bungling, the students said they had not been extended even basic medical facilities despite their paying a medical fee of Rs. 600 and hostellers paying Rs. 1,100 per year. Apparently, the sick bay at the hostel was being utilised as a store room.

Further, there were no telephonic services like a STD/PCO booth for students at the residential complex. Even the SPA stores society which charges Rs. 500 from every students apparently provides inadequate stationery. Moreover, items at the store were priced higher than the market.

This apart, students had complaints on the inadequate furniture in the lecture halls and studios. The fifth floor studios, students said, were structurally unsafe and even the auditorium was in a poor state.

Apparently, SPA charges Rs. 1,000 annually as sports fees but there were no sports facilities available on the campus. Despite repeated appeals and meetings with the School authorities, there had been no improvement in the state of affairs.

Instead, the SPA Director claims to have referred the case of lowering charges to the Academic Council. While this process may take a few months, the Director apparently termed the hike in mess rates as ``not an emergency issue''.

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