Every time they sit for a meal in their hostel canteens, students of government residential schools and colleges in Telangana are increasingly being forced to pray for their own safety. Such has been the frequency of worms and lizards being found in rice, curries and upma, apart from instances of rotten eggs and vegetables being used to make food for them.

The situation is also seeing an increasing frequency of students, including girl students, coming out on the streets protesting against sub-standard food being served to them. Right from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s own constituency of Kodangal to Mahabubabad, there have been seven such protests in four days since Friday.