Free food for college students from drought-hit areas

The youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has started a free mess for students in the city who hail from drought-hit areas of the state to help them in their difficult times. The mess will be operational until May-end when college examinations will be over. The students will be provided two meals a day at a set-up erected at Shani-Maruti temple auditorium in Parvati area of the city.

“As many as100 students from drought-affected areas of the state studying here are benefiting from the free mess service and their number is expected to grow. The families of these students are facing financial crisis owing to drought. Our aim is to help these students and help their families,” said BJP youth wing president Ganesh Ghosh.

The mess,inaugurated by newly elected BJP state president Devendra Fadnavis,has received financial support from some local groups.

In the wake of the drought in several parts of the state,the state government has already decided to waive the exam fee of students from 7,064 drought-hit villages,where final ‘Paisewari’ (value of the crop) is less than 50 paise.

‘Paisewari’ is used as a criterion for gauging the drought situation in the state. More than 28,750 students from different affiliated colleges of the University of Pune situated in drought-hit villages will benefit from the move.