Students and members of the Students Federation of India stage a protest in front of the government Social Justice women’s college hostel in Pudukkottai on Wednesday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A protest was staged on Wednesday in front of a government-run Social Justice college hostel for women in Pudukkottai town after inmates alleged that they were served only plain rice for several days owing to a shortage of funds allocated for food.
The district has 58 Social Justice hostels comprising 53 school hostels, five college hostels and two polytechnic college hostels. More than 100 students are currently residing at the women’s college hostel in the town.
Students alleged that from February 1-4, they were provided only rice in the name of meals. “For the past two months, we have been given only rice and rasam for all three meals,” a protesting student said, adding that the situation had worsened in recent days.
Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest in front of the hostel, raising slogans and demanding immediate intervention. Speaking to The Hindu, R. Vasanthakumar, district secretary of SFI, said several students were attending college without proper meals.
He alleged that funds allocated to the hostels had been exhausted by December, resulting in the non-supply of items listed in the prescribed food menu for January and February.
Following the protest, officials from the district administration assured the students and protesters that immediate arrangements would be made to provide food as per the approved menu. Acting on the assurance, the protesters dispersed.
A senior official from the district administration said steps had been initiated to ensure an uninterrupted supply of food at the hostel and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.
Published – February 04, 2026 08:09 pm IST
