Utkal students demand hostel rooms, canteen

Bhubaneswar: Students of Utkal University on Monday staged a demonstration on the campus over issues related to hostel facilities and accommodation. They also met the warden and other officials and discussed their problems. A group of students, most of them from Gopabandhu Chhatrabas (Boys Hostel-1), staged a dharna in front of the warden’s office demanding reopening of canteen, immediate allotment of hostel rooms for students and single rooms for second-year postgraduate students.
Laxmidhar Sahoo, a second-year PG student, said the university normally allots single rooms to them. “But we have not received them so far. We need to prepare for different competitive examinations and entrance exams like the National Eligibility Test (NET). For this, we need a single room to reduce disturbance while studying,” he added.
Chandan Kumar Jena, another second-year PG student, said the canteen was not functioning for the past two months. “We have to go outside to get food. Some of the students prepare their food but it is a tedious job,” he added.
A PG first-year student said they should be allotted rooms immediately.
Prabodha Kumar Hota, hostel superintendent, said they have discussed the issues and assured them of help. “The process for allotment of hostel rooms has started. Canteen for hostellers will be reopened soon,” he added.