Presidency University re-invites bids to run oldest canteen on campus

Kolkata: The Presidency University in Kolkata has re-invited bids for running the oldest canteen in the campus, known as 'Pramod-da's canteen' to generations of students after the earlier tender, quoting higher rates, triggered widespread protest from students.

"We are not averse to Pramod Swain. We know he has been part of the Presidency psyche for ages. But there has to be some transparency in running the canteen by anyone including Pramod-da since it is a commercial establishment. We have brought down the required annual turnover of prospective bidders for the oldest Presidency canteen from Rs 16.6 to Rs 6 lakh. Now he has to show some accountability as well. He can't merely cite sentiments and nostalgia in the present situation," a Presidency University official said in Kolkata.

"If he now responds to the re-bidding process we promise to sympathetically look into his case. But he is yet to reply to the fresh tender issued on August 10. Can't he now pay the scaled down required amount? Can we allow someone who had run the canteen without mandatory licenses for years, if he does not comply? We wish he first sorts out these factors. We will then certainly consider sympathetically within the standard procedures," the official said.

"An institution is bigger than an individual even if he had been running a canteen here for 40 years. If there is a mishap in the canteen due to laxity in certain standard norms, who will be held responsible? Larger interest matters," he said.

Claiming he has already secured the trade and food licenses as stipulated by the present administration in the university, Promod Swain said, "From the earlier tendering amount of Rs 50 lakh quoted in July, now they have scaled that down to Rs 18 lakh in three years – that is Rs 6 lakh in a year. They are asking for a balance sheet of three years as well." "Now please tell me, if I have to follow so many procedures, how can I keep my food items within the buying capacity of students, many of whom run out of travelling expenses and I chip in to help them. How can I keep the food prices low for these students if I have to pay Rs 20,000 as monthly rent," he asked.

Pramod-da's canteen is one of the three canteens in the premier institution with the other two being more recent additions. Presidency students' union member and former Independent Consolidation (IC) Convenor Arkopal Dutta said, "Our catchline is 'Canteen bujhina Pramod-da ke chai' (We are not bothered about nitty-gritty of tendering process. We want Pramod-da to remain here."

Sayantan of political science and Sayati of sociology third year, sitting in the canteen, said "Pramod-da is synonymous with Presidency”. Post Graduate students Ayesha, Sharmistha and Arkojyoti said, "We feel most comfortable in this canteen where we don't merely come for refreshments but catch up with friends and we wish Pramod-da to remain with us."