For half a year now, students, staff, and visitors at Bharathidasan University in Trichy have been left without a functioning canteen on campus. This prolonged closure has forced the university community to brave a perilous, accident-prone road outside the campus premises just to get basic meals and refreshments, creating daily inconvenience and safety concerns.
A Daily Struggle for Students and Staff
The absence of the campus canteen impacts dozens of individuals daily, including many from affiliated colleges who visit for certificates and administrative work. R Abhishek, a first-year student, highlighted the added stress during critical academic periods, stating that a canteen would have been immensely helpful during exam times. Another student echoed the sentiment, describing the ordeal of crossing the busy road every time they need food, which not only poses a risk but also consumes valuable time and leads to higher spending at outside restaurants.
A professor raised a fundamental question, emphasizing that a working canteen is a basic necessity for any state university. The situation underscores a significant gap in campus infrastructure, affecting the well-being and productivity of its users.
Stalled Committee Proposals and Contractor Withdrawals
Despite the clear need, efforts to revive the canteen have hit repeated roadblocks. Earlier this year, the university formed a committee comprising teaching and non-teaching staff, along with syndicate members, to address the issue. However, its proposal was reportedly rejected by the Vice-Chancellor's committee. A committee member revealed that the proposal, which suggested setting up two canteens at a rent of ₹15,000 each, was not accepted because the suggested rate was lower than previous amounts.
The root of the problem appears to be financial viability for contractors. Sources indicate that the last contractor withdrew from operating the canteen, citing 'insufficient returns' for a monthly rent of ₹65,000. This was not an isolated incident, as contractors had pulled out earlier for similar reasons, even when the rent was set at ₹44,000.
District Collector's Recommendation: A Social Solution
In a potential turn of events, the district collector has recommended an alternative approach. A senior university official confirmed that the proposal involves handing over canteen services to women self-help groups (SHGs). This model aims to provide a sustainable and socially valuable solution. However, it has sparked an internal debate within the university administration about balancing social welfare with institutional revenue.
An official noted that while the canteen should start functioning soon, the well-intentioned idea might cut off a source of income for the university. When questioned, a senior district official defended the proposal, insisting on a nominal rent being charged. The official stressed that the social value brought by women self-help groups is equally important and revealed that a similar idea has been discussed with NIT-Trichy as well.
As the debate continues, the primary stakeholders—the students and staff of Bharathidasan University—continue to face daily hardships, waiting for a permanent and safe solution to their basic need for accessible food on campus.
