Patiala: UCOE students protest over lack of facilities in hostels

Patiala, April 12

Students of the University College of Engineering (UCOE) at Punjabi University, Patiala, today held a protest outside the UCOE branch demanding basic facilities such as clean drinking water, sanitation and repair of defunct lifts at hostels and the teaching department.

They said they had raised the demands with administrative officials of the university a number of times, but to no avail following which they had to resort to protest. They said, “The university is to admit new students but lacks basic infrastructure.”

Students pointed out that clean drinking water was only available at the UCOE’s first and second floors. It did not reach the floors above. Students had to climb the stairs of the eight-storeyed building for water all day long.

They pointed out that lifts at the department and hostels were also defunct. “There are four lifts at the UCOE building, two at the Mai Bhago hostel for girls, which has seven floors, and two lifts at the seven-floor boys’ hostel building of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur hostel. Not even one of these is in a working condition,” they alleged.

“Along with students, pregnant women and teachers are also forced to climb the stairs. Physically challenged also face difficulty in going up or down the floors,” said a student.