Bhubaneswar, July 21: More than 500 students of Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla, staged a demonstration outside the university's administrative block on Tuesday, demanding improved hostel facilities, better quality food in the mess and the withdrawal of the compulsory uniform policy.

The students alleged that despite submitting repeated representations to the university authorities, their long-pending grievances had remained unresolved, prompting them to launch the protest.

The demonstrators highlighted several issues, including overcrowded hostel rooms, poor-quality food, inadequate drinking water supply, unhygienic living conditions and the mandatory purchase of uniforms. They urged the administration to address these concerns without further delay.

Speaking to mediapersons, a student said the protest initially began over the compulsory uniform policy but soon expanded to include broader hostel-related problems. He alleged that five students were being accommodated in rooms designed for only three, making living conditions extremely difficult. The student also questioned the decision to award the hostel catering contract to a food service provider that was allegedly blacklisted earlier.

Another student claimed that frequent water shortages, unhygienic bathrooms and poor mess food had made hostel life increasingly difficult. A female student further alleged that several water purifiers in the girls' hostels were either non-functional or failed to provide sufficient drinking water. She also expressed concern over the financial burden of purchasing new blue uniforms after the previously purchased ones faded with regular use.

The protesting students demanded immediate intervention by the university authorities, warning that they would intensify their agitation if their demands were not addressed promptly.

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