Mysore/Mysuru: Demanding additional toilet facilities, students of Maharani’s Women’s Commerce and Management College, Vinayakanagar (Paduvarahalli) on Mysuru-Hunsur road in the city, staged a flash protest at the College campus recently.

The protesting students said “The Maharani’s College building with 11 toilets was inaugurated six years ago, which was sufficient for the students then. Now, the toilets appear less compared to the increase in  number of students, hence there is an emergent need for creating more toilet facilities.”

The College has total 4,000 students pursuing Under Graduate and Post Graduate courses in Commerce, with 60 percent of the students belonging to rural areas. These students who start at 7 in the morning from their villages, face difficulty at times to use the toilets. The issue was also brought to the notice of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and Higher Education Minister Dr. M.C. Sudhakar during their recent visit to College.

The College authorities are spending Rs. 70,000 per month from College Development Fund towards toilet maintenance.  It includes salary of the cleaning staff and also the electricity bill. However, the fund allotted is too meagre considering the number of toilets, the students alleged.

The CM during his visit promised to lay foundation for two-storey building and also additional toilets, besides assuring to take a look into the demand of canteen facility, as the students from far away villages are facing difficulties in getting lunch from outside.

President of Students Union Gaganasri, General Secretary G. Pravalika, office-bearers Pooja, Soundarya, Deepika, Deepti Krishna and other students took part in the protest.