Know why IIT Delhi students are protesting over mess fees
What's the story
Numerous students of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) have launched a protest over an alleged hike in the mess fees at the prestigious institute. The average mess fee has been raised to approximately Rs. 7,000 per month, which is significantly higher than most other IITs, claimed the students' group that is voicing its protest against the same.
Twitter Post
Visuals of students protesting at IIT Delhi
@iitdelhi students protesting against the Mess Fees hike despite paying the highest mess fees among all other IITs.
— NM (@thegamewame) April 10, 2023
IITD mess fees is almost 12K-13K higher than the other IITs and still administration is emphasis on increasing mess fees and ignoring students voices. pic.twitter.com/wqgU7QeQWg
Details
Details on students protesting at IIT Delhi
According to the agitating students, they currently pay approximately Rs. 80-90 every day for the salaries and pensions of Board of Hotel Management (BHM) workers. According to them, this amount totals up to around Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 13,000 per semester. Furthermore, the students claim that at other IITs, the institutes bear the cost of wages, so their mess fees are significantly lower.
Further information
Know about BHM
The BHM is an autonomous body that reportedly coordinates the working of all the hostels and makes all key decisions on policies. "BHM is a constituent body of the Student Affairs Council (SAC), as recognized under Article III-A2 of the SAC Constitution. The Dean of Students is the head of the hostel organization," says the official website of IIT Delhi.
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Institute blamed inflation behind fee hike: Protesters
While the institution allegedly cited high inflation of roughly 60% in the previous four years as the reason for the high mess fees, students claimed that annual inflation in India was "around 6-7%." The students allegedly attempted to persuade authorities to reduce the mess fees via mail, but they were told to pay the fees "quietly" and "not raise questions."
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Protesting students point out IIT Delhi's 'dictator-like' administration
The students allegedly claimed that IIT Delhi's "dictator-like" authorities forced them to pay mess fees before the deadline and threatened them with expulsion from important elections and removal from the hostel. They further claimed that authorities blocked non-messing options for them. Non-messing is an option that students can avail of if they don't want to have the mess food and arrange for food themselves.