BHM DGSec(Mess) - Sanyam Garg

PAST CONTRIBUTIONS

Mess & Hostel Operations

• Actively coordinated with mess staff and administration to ensure smooth day-to-day functioning of hostel mess services.

• Assisted in overseeing mess attendance tracking, meal scheduling, and maintenance of quality standards in food service.

• Collaborated with hostel representatives to address resident complaints and escalate unresolved issues to concerned authorities.

• Supported the procurement and inventory management of mess supplies, ensuring timely availability of essential items.

VISION & INITIATIVES

The overarching goal of my tenure as DG Mess Affairs will be to ensure that every resident experiences a clean, transparent, and well-managed mess — one that consistently serves quality food, operates with accountability, and adapts to the needs of the hostel community.

Infrastructure & Hygiene

• Installation of hot water purifiers in the mess with TDS monitoring to ensure safe and clean drinking water for all residents.

• Setting up a self-kitchen facility in every hostel to provide residents with the option to prepare their own meals when required.

• Installing security cameras in key mess areas — particularly in the bag storage area and storeroom — to enhance accountability and prevent pilferage.

• Upgrading biometric attendance devices for students to match the standard of institute-level attendance systems, ensuring accurate and tamper-proof records.

• Advocating for the implementation of centralised AC in all messes for improved comfort and food preservation standards.

Digital & Operational Efficiency

• Enabling extra messing coupons in the BHM app and integrating a QR scanner for faster, more seamless coupon redemption during meal hours.

• Introducing a structured Mess Calendar that clearly marks no-dinner days, compulsory special dinners, and hostel-specific special days (e.g., GC victories), with proper approval mechanisms in place.

• Revising the evening snacks list to include a mandatory baseline menu for all hostels, while allowing hostel-specific additions based on local demand.

• Working with BHM to onboard new, verified vendors and establish an updated rate and item list for outsourced mess items, particularly for ensuring competitive pricing and quality.

Transparency & Financial Accountability

• Ensuring sweets procurement and distribution is handled in-house with full transparency in sourcing, pricing, and quantity.

• Advocating for GC event budgets to be managed independently and not drawn from mess funds, maintaining the integrity of mess finances.

Community & Engagement

• Conducting regular inter-mess meetings with dinner sessions to facilitate idea-sharing, resolve operational issues, and foster a collaborative BHM culture.

• Organising an orientation event at the start of the academic year where BHM representatives interact with first-year students, introducing them to mess systems, grievance channels, and hostel norms.

• Establishing a Mess Secretary Working Charter — a formal document outlining the responsibilities, priorities, and deliverables expected from the Mess Secretary throughout the tenure, ensuring accountability and continuity.

• Defining a clear time-limit policy for daily-wage workers before granting leave, ensuring mess operations are not disrupted due to sudden, unplanned absences.