Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jun 13:
In a pioneering step towards fostering student leadership and participatory governance, the University of Jammu has inaugurated a fully student-run mess at the Baba Jitto Boys Hostel (BJBH), marking a significant shift in hostel management and student engagement.
The initiative—spearheaded by the hostel administration in collaboration with resident students—aims to empower boarders by involving them directly in the decision-making process related to mess operations. This reform is seen as a milestone in the university’s vision of promoting democratic values and accountability within campus life.
The newly formed Mess Committee, led by Avinash Choudhary, a law student and resident of BJBH, comprises elected student representatives and functions on principles of transparency and inclusiveness. The committee is responsible for overseeing the mess operations, ensuring quality food services, and addressing students’ concerns effectively. The inauguration ceremony was held with great enthusiasm and was graced by Prof. Pankaj Kumar from the Department of Zoology, who lauded the effort as “a blueprint for student-administration partnership” and a progressive model for other hostels to follow.
Prominent university officials present on the occasion included Prof. Lalitsen Sharma, Provost (Boys Hostels), Dr. Surinder Sharma, Warden (BJBH), Dr. Rajesh Sharma, Resident Warden (BJBH), Dr. Amit Gupta (Department of Zoology), and Dr. Nitan Sharma, Resident Warden (Jambu Lochan Boys Hostel).
heir presence reflected the administration’s strong support for student-led governance. Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Lalitsen Sharma emphasized that the student-run mess model not only brings operational transparency but also inculcates leadership, accountability, and community responsibility among students.
Dr. Surinder Sharma, under whose wardenship the reform was implemented, described the initiative as a “long-overdue step towards democratizing hostel management.” The boarders of Baba Jitto Hostel have warmly welcomed the new arrangement, terming it as a positive and much-needed reform that ensures their voices are heard and needs prioritized.
With this initiative, the University of Jammu sets a new precedent in higher education governance by empowering students to take charge of essential aspects of campus life, paving the way for a more participative and responsible student community.
