500 college students fall sick

Over 500 students, all of them first generation students from Ambedkar Adi Dravidar Boys hostel, have been falling ill often. Consequently, many of them are unable to attend college regularly. Students blame the sub-standard hygiene and food quality for their health problems.The hostel is near the Rajamangalam Government Veterinary Hospital. A blue statue of Dr Ambedkar welcomes you, behind which one can see students bathing near an extremely filthy tank. Once a day, a lorry fills the tank which is contaminated with garbage. Says Ramesh, a third BA English student, "I have lived here for three years and not once have I seen the tank being cleaned and due to this several students have contracted skin diseases.There are 16 dingy rooms in the hostel and 20 students share each room. A stench emanates from the waste food dumped in the open. There are no garbage bins in the hostel. Students are asked to dispose waste in a common area wherein a snake also was found.