Mangaluru: University College, Hampankatta, has extended a free midday eating program to the Academic Year Graduate Students.
The program began three years ago, to help undergraduate students from distant and poor families.
College, after realizing that there were students in the PG course who faced similar difficulties, decided to extend the program.
This initiative is the idea of ​​Uday Kumar M A, Professor Associate and former Principal of the campus.
It was stopped during a pandemic, and continued a few days ago.
Dr.
Ganapati Gowda S, Professor Associate, History and Responsible for the Program, told Stoi that currently 230 students including 30 PG students, benefit from midday food.
It is sponsored by faculty, sympathizers, alumni, and others.
“Many students from a bad background economically came to college 60 km away.
They left home around 6am and packed Tiffin from the rest of the night before.
The food turned stale when they sat for lunch during the day.
Because they don’t can consume it, they throw it away.
They survive on water or eat biscuits or quick bite, and attend hungry classes.
This is the condition of undergraduate students, and it is the same as PG students.
Therefore, we decided to choose a qualified candidate for This program, “said Ganapati.
Ganapati said that after a student submitted a request to take advantage of the program, personal interviews were carried out, and were accepted only if the committee was sure.
“UG College just approached more than 1,500 students, and the majority came from a bad background.
We cannot enter everyone because of the lack of resources,” Ganapathi said, adding that beneficiaries are given the responsibility to regulate, serve food and clean the place.
When the program began in 2017-18, he had around 50 UG students, and increased to 178 years later.
Every day the students served boundary rice, sambar, palya, chutney and pickles.