Contractor accuses SC/ST hostel prisoners of wasting enough food for 50

Nagpur: In another admission, the food contractor at the Manish Nagar hostel in the state social welfare department complained that the more than 130 inmates were wasting boiled eggs, oranges, bananas and cooking food every day.

According to his submission before the inquiry panel, M/s Tiger Saoji Caterers owner submitted photographs and videos of students carrying large amounts of boiled eggs, fruits and food from the hostel’s serving area into their quarters. “Approximately 50 kg of food per day is wasted according to our estimation which is adequate to feed 50 people.

In addition to accusing the contractor of bullying them, the department has set up an investigation with three assistant social welfare commissioners after students complained about poor quality and contaminated food. The students had been sitting on hunger strikes at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhavan on South Ambazari Road during the last week of January demanding the expulsion of the contractor.

It emerged during the inquiry that the students had taken Rs85,000 from the contractor forfeiting non-veg meals for 21 days and, apparently, went to hill stations on a jaunt. On February 9 TOI had written on the contractor’s allegations.

The contractor said on Tuesday that he had no problem in how much food and fruit students take away as long as they eat all of it. “But most of it is normally not eaten and thrown away, or left in the rooms to rot. According to law, the inmates are unable to take food and fruits to their quarters, but in the dining area they have to eat them, “he said.
The contractor also alleged that in the rooms some students were boozing, particularly on Wednesdays and Sundays when non-veg food is served.

The graduates, speaking with TOI, denied the claims and again blamed the contractor for trying to suppress their objections. “The images on the liquor are four years old. A senior prisoner has been suspended, and he’s on department record, “said a law student.

Another student agreed that some of them take the food to their rooms but in a limited quantity and during meal hours for those who are not present. “Many of us study in outside libraries. Timings for serving food are set. To our friends who arrive late, we try to hold back some thalis. If we don’t have to go hungry they will have to, “the student said.
They agreed that there is some food leftover but it is not as big as believed.

The contractor alleged the students were tossing the boiled eggs off the window of their room on the open plot adjacent to the hostel. “Some people gathered food items as they are consumable,” he said. Sources said the inquiry panel is likely to verify the claim by talking to those people who had brought food to the left.