NDMC doubles Mess fee of shelters for working women and old age home

New Delhi, Apr 22 (UNI) The inmates of one of New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) run Working Women hostels are up in the arms against a proposal to double the mess fee.

''The proposed hike will burden the inmates who have come from all over the country to work in Delhi. This is a shelter for women and the NDMC should not think of making profits,'' said one of the inmates of the hostel.

''An increase by 10-15 per cent is still alright. But the NDMC's decision to just double is quite outrageous.'' When contacted, NDMC Director (Welfare), Ranjana Deswal said ''The proposed fee hike is still below the market rates and we have to make some profit as well''.

The NDMC had filed an open tender and the minimum charge offered was almost double to what the residents have been paying.

Asked why it cannot continue with the same contractor, Ms Deswal said ''the present contractor is unauthorised. We can't continue with him.'' The mess charges are compulsory for all the residents irrespective of whether they have their food in the hostel or not.

The NDMC is runing three hostels in the capital.

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