By Meenakshi Kumar
This article is part of our Manifesto Review series, where we review the tenures of IITM’s Executive Council for the year 2016-17. In this review, we evaluate the manifesto of Kishore KS, Hostel Affairs Secretary 2016-17. Executive Council Manifesto Reviews are usually done in April or May. The 2016-17 reviews are being done in September/October, and so the status of completion of some manifesto points might be different had the review been done in April. It is important to note this when comparing secretaries of different years.
Note: The Manifesto Reviews team at T5E has made every effort to review the Executive Council in an unbiased manner and stay true to the facts, but it is possible that we may have made inadvertent errors. We request our readers to point out errors if any so that we may correct them immediately. Finally, we value your feedback! You can reach us at [email protected].
VItal Statistics
| Manifesto Points | Number | Percentage |
| Completed | 13 | 43.33 |
| Partially Done | 6 | 20 |
| Ongoing | 3 | 10 |
| Incomplete | 8 | 26.66 |
| Total | 30 | 100 |
The same colour scheme is used in the review below.
Kishore KS was unanimously elected Hostel Affairs Secretary for the Academic year 2016-17. His performance during his tenure was a reflection of his vision to represent the interests of the students and building a system based on transparency and sustainability.
Some achievements he is proudest of include an online complaints and suggestions portal, the new food courts in both Vindhya and Himalaya messes, online registration in the Himalaya messes for girls, implementation of the smart card system, brunches and cooking competitions. He also recounts his experience during the cyclone, Vardha and speaks highly of the job done by caterers and eateries in the campus.
Summarised below is an overview of Kishore’s manifesto and a review of its completion during his tenure.
Mess:
- Refund will be given for missed meals at the end of a semester with a cap.
Status: Not done
It was expected that smart card registration, which was ongoing during the 2016-17 elections would be completed in that semester itself. However, the registration got delayed and was completed only in the odd semester of 2017. So this system could not be implemented. The current HAS however has an entirely different model that is yet to be implemented.
- An additional food court and a non-vegetarian mess will be introduced in Himalaya.
Status: Partially done.
One of the mess halls in Himalaya was made into a convertible food court in addition to the existing permanent food court.
However, while a non-veg mess was possible, on evaluation of the tender document, the non veg mess was found to be more expensive. It was found that non-veg extras in the mess would be more feasible. A wide variety of extras was introduced, along with a compulsory menu for every meal.
- First Floor of Vindhya will be diversified into a new food court.
Status: Done
- Swapping of messes will be allowed up to 2 days after mess allocation.
Status: Done.
- Fish items and sprouts will be added as extras.
Status: Done
- Penalty system on caterers to be modified for the benefit of the students.
Status: Done.
The penalty system was modified such that when a fine was to be imposed on the caterers, they provided a special item to the students in addition to the regular menu, like ice-cream.
- Food Court will be operational during vacation if the required registrations are met.
Status: Done.
- Follow up: Night canteens will be opened in the ground floor mess halls of Himalaya and Vindhya. Brunches will be made available in the messes
Status: Partially done.
While the night canteens could not be opened due to time constraints, brunches were made available towards the end of his tenure.
General and transport facilities
- Tender will be called for cycle repair shop near Sharavathi hostel and for laundry service in the hostel zone.
Status: Partially done.
The tender and prices for the cycle repair shop were finalized. However, due to administrative delay, the final contract could not be completed during his tenure. The shop is however now open in the Sharavathi cycle shed.
- Facilities will be made to deliver food prescribed by hospital for admitted students (from Zaitoon/Suprabha).
Status: Done.
- A permanent screen will be placed at Himalaya and Vindhya ground floor for publicity.
Status: Ongoing.
The tender was ongoing and quotations submitted during Kishore’s tenure. The screens are expected to be up shortly.
- Feedback form for facilities will be sent to GSB twice a semester.
Status: Done.
The feedback form was sent in the odd semester. By the even semester, an online complaint forum was put in place so the form was no longer required.
- 24*7 Battery run rickshaws will be introduced.
Status: Not done.
The groundwork was done however the Dean (Admin) asked for the groundwork to be redone in order to introduce changes into the initial plan. However, due to time constraints, the groundwork could not be repeated.
- Follow up: Cash-free purchasing within the institute using smart cards.
Smart cards have been implemented for purchase of extras in messes. However, they cannot be recharged through the ikollege portal.
Hostel facilities
- Coffee-Tea makers will be installed in all hostels.
Status: Not done.
When the groundwork was being done, plans were made to purchase coin operated coffee machines. However, vendors claimed to have stopped making these machines. Therefore, this point was no longer feasible.
- Electric heater will be installed as a backup for solar water heaters in all hostels.
Status: Ongoing
After the cyclone Vardha, all hostels lost their electric heaters. In discussions with the Dean (Planning), it was decided that all hostels will get centralised solar and electric heaters. Still in the stage of getting tenders.
- Cooking room will be introduced in hostels.
Status: Not done.
The director wanted the cooking room to first be in a common space and depending on the response, it would be implemented at the hostel level. However, due to time constraints, an institute wide cooking room could not be arranged.
- One industrial washing machine will be installed in all hostels.
Status: Not done.
This could not be done since a separate room was needed in each hostel. However, since room allocation was done during the summer, a separate room could not be obtained.
- Hostels will be made solar-powered in stages and automatic power OFF system will be introduced in bathrooms.
Status: Ongoing.
The power OFF system was discussed with CFI. A prototype and plan was developed and the system was tested. It is expected to be implemented soon hopefully.
Hostel solar powered in stages is expected to be a long drawn out process to be completed over the course of several years, with benefits accruing accordingly. This is being done at an institute level with the Dean (Planning)
- Rate Contract System will be introduced in hostels as a cost-cutting measure.
Status: Done
The system was centralised and all hostels bought appliances together. This meant that rates were cut by 10% at least.
- Follow up: Night Canteens and vending machines will be extended to more hostels.
Status: Partially done.
A night canteen was opened in Ganga hostel. Tenders for new vending machines in four hostels were initiated.
Transparency
- A meeting open to GSB will be conducted for mess menu finalization for the academic year
Status: Not done.
This could not be done due to time constraints. But an online feedback form was circulated, thereby achieving the objective of the meeting. First a general form was circulated and then specific questions based on the feedback given in the first form were circulated. On this basis, many items like pav bhaji were added to the menu.
- Live results of students’ feedback will be displayed in the mess registration portal.
Status: Partially done.
Live results could not be displayed owing to logistical and technical issues such as ikollege being preoccupied with election work. However, consolidated reports of the MoMs were sent to the GSB, thereby achieving the objective of transparency.
- Minutes of monthly MMCC and CMGFS meetings will be sent to GSB.
Status: Done.
- Students will be included in the management of Cauvery mess.
Status: Done.
Cooking Club and food festival
- Cooking club sessions will happen once every two weeks. Cooking competitions will be conducted.
Status: Done
Sessions were conducted more frequently than fortnightly, close to once a week, in some months.
- Temporary food stalls will be opened in Himalaya.
Status: Not done
This could not be done due to time constraints.
- ‘Samrudh’, an institute food fest will be organized in collaboration with Cultural Affairs Secretaries.
Status: Done
This was organised as part of Saarang in collaboration with Saarang’s food fest team.
Students portal
- Exclusive online complaint registration regarding mess and facilities will be enabled in Students portal and in the upcoming Students mobile app.
Status: Done.
This was done in the even semester.
- ‘FoodKart’, a new feature within student’s portal to buy food from outlets inside, and at discounted rates from branded outlets outside the campus will be introduced.
Status: Not done.
Although efforts were initiated, practical issues cropped up, making this time consuming. A different model is now being worked on.
Some of Kishore’s notable achievements outside of those mentioned in his manifesto include implementation of the cycle pooling system in Saraswathi and Jamuna hostels. The old cycles were auctioned off, while the remaining were repainted, repaired and rented to students on an hourly basis. Further, he organised cycle repair camps at the beginning of each semester.
He also put in place the room cleaning system. The facilities in the Sharavathi SFC were completed during his tenure. Further, he formulated an arrangement with OYO Rooms wherein a 20% discount can be availed on parents accommodation during convocation and admissions. The tendering process for a new saloon in Gurunath was ongoing when Kishore signed off.
The management of the CMGFS was standardised and streamlined. A handbook was prepared and distributed to all vendors, ensuring a much smoother system, upon the initiative of the CMGFS Chairman and DoST secretary.
The cooking club was made more structured, and a convenor – coordinator hierarchy resembling that of the Sangam clubs was established, the credit for which Kishore attributes to the cooking club and its convenor, Urmika Sinha, who also introduced food games sessions.
Finally, he expressed gratitude to all the members of the various committees he was in charge of, for their support. He also thanked the CCW Chairman, DoSt and CMGFS Chairman for the experience and learning, and regrets the things he could not achieve for lack of time and similar constraints.
Conclusion
This concludes the review of the HAS’ proposed policies. Kishore has completed 43.33% of the points on his manifesto, while 20% are partially completed and 10% are ongoing. 26.67% of the manifesto could not be completed. We congratulate him on the successful completion of his tenure and wish the best for Ashwanth Monian, HAS 2017-18.
