Date:26/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/26/stories/2008092650190200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Social work students stage protest, seek better facilities

Kannal Achuthan

They say that 20 of them are suffering either from fever or diarrhoea

— Photo: V. Ganesan

SIT IN: Students of Madras School of Social Work protest the lack of amenities at the college on Wednesday.

CHENNAI: Students of the Madras School of Social Work on Wednesday staged a protest in front of the college in Egmore demanding better amenities.

The students said at least 20 students in the hostel were suffering from diarrhoea or fever as a result of the poor quality of drinking water. One of the students has been hospitalised, they said.

One of the hostel students, requesting anonymity, said a request for boiled water in the dining hall had been turned down. “We were told we could buy water sachets if we wanted,” he said.

The students have also demanded additional drinking water facilities inside the college and provision of more toilets. “For about 450 students, there are only three toilets for men and three for women in the college,” a student said.

The college authorities said they would act on the demand for better facilities for water. However, the students said they wanted the assurance in writing and would continue the protest till then.