TN CM Vijay conducts surprise inspection at social justice hostel in Chennai
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay conducted a surprise inspection on Friday at the MC Raja Social Justice Hostel in Saidapet, where students presented a slew of grievances regarding substandard facilities, severe security lapses, and staff apathy.
During the interaction, students informed the Chief Minister that rigid hostel curfew timings are severely impacting residents who attend part-time jobs or competitive exam coaching, such as UPSC and TNPSC classes.
They reported that latecomers are routinely locked out of the premises, forcing them to sleep in public parks or outside the gates.
While locked out, students alleged they have faced harassment from local miscreants and instances of robbery.
Highlighting poor living conditions, the inmates complained of frequent water shortages, uncleaned and broken restrooms, and a lack of adequate drinking water.
Furthermore, students stated that the quality of food is persistently poor, noting that catering staff do not adhere to basic hygiene protocols like wearing gloves or hairnets.
Security remains a primary concern, added the students, pointing out a severe shortage of CCTV surveillance.
Although there is a requirement for 64 cameras, the existing setup provides only two cameras per floor, which cover only the reading areas and leave residential corridors unmonitored. Students told the Chief Minister that this lack of oversight has led to frequent thefts, internal altercations, and incidents of senior-junior ragging.
The residents also flagged the abusive behaviour of hostel personnel. They alleged that watchmen and supervisors frequently use derogatory language, subjecting the students from economically weaker sections to significant mental distress.
Additionally, students pointed out a general shortage of staff and stated that recreational facilities, including the volleyball court, have been kept locked and inaccessible for an extended period despite repeated requests.
