Jamia Millia Islamia students protest over hostel mess issues

Students at the Jammu and Kashmir Girls' Hostel at Jamia Millia Islamia have staged protests over severe mismanagement and poor food quality in the hostel mess. Allegations include finding insects in food and glass fragments in vegetables.

Protesters claim the university administration failed to honor written agreements made during previous demonstrations. Specific grievances include the lack of breakfast, delayed lunch service, the presence of male staff in the girls' mess, and the requirement for students to provide personal contact details to receive food, which students fear could be used for surveillance.

The students are demanding the cancellation of the current food vendor's contract, the deployment of female staff in the mess, and the resignation of the Provost and Warden. They also allege that the food contractor was not actually changed as promised, but is instead operating under a different name. Following a high-level meeting between university officials and students on September 12, the movement was temporarily suspended after receiving fresh assurances.