Jaipur: Broken chairs, damp walls, no wash basins and dirty floors summarises the condition of canteens at Rajasthan University colleges. Students in Maharaja College, Rajasthan College and Commerce College have complained several times to the authorities to improve the quality of canteens, but all please have fallen on deaf ears.

In the Maharaja College canteen, there are only three food options available out of 20 in the menu. Rajesh Meena, a second-year student of the institute, said there was a need to improve the facility.

“There are many options on the menu but only samosas, patties and kachori are available. The condition of the kitchen is very bad and we have asked the student leaders to raise this issue, but nothing has been done,” said Rajesh.

The sorry state-of-affairs at the canteen was one of the main issues discussed during the last students’ union elections.

In Commerce College, there are complaints of under-age workers employed in the canteen. Student Junaid Qureshi said one person had been running the canteen for many years and has its say on how the things are managed.

“Furniture is broken and needs replacement. Children below 14 years are employed right under the nose of the administration and no has done anything to change it. There is an immediate need to look into the hygiene of the canteen, but the administration still gives the tender to run the canteen to the same person every year,” said Juniad.

One of the faculty members at Commerce College said the issue was raised at meetings many times. “Everyone has their own share to give tender to such people. In the beginning, contractor will claim to provide variety of food items which would be no where to be found after a month of bagging the tender. They all look into more profit making,” said the faculty member.

In Rajasthan College, drinking water is a major issue. “There is a water cooler in the building or else normal tap water from tanks which are not cleaned on time is our only option,” said Randheer Singh, a student.

