Firm decisions on monitoring hostels

Metro India News | amaravati

The Andhra Pradesh BC & EWS Welfare, Handlooms & Textiles minister S. Savita said on Thursday that an inspection app is being developed to improve the monitoring and performance of BC hostels in the state. She said that the vacant posts in the hostels will be filled soon. She ordered that a health diary be maintained on the health status of the students. The minister held a video conference on Thursday at her office in the State Secretariat in Velagapudi on the topic of hostel management and student safety. Earlier, BC Welfare Director Mallikarjuna said that they should be vigilant in the management of backward class hostels.

Later, Minister Savita said that the District Backward Classes Welfare Officers (DBCWO) should inspect the hostels regularly. She said that this will improve the management of the hostels. She said that the state government will soon develop an inspection app on the inspections of DBCWOs. The app should load the details of inspections conducted. She said that she too has conducted surprise inspections of up to 70 hostels in the past 6 months. She revealed that the staff works responsibly due to frequent visits of higher officials to the hostels.

She said that special attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the hostel surroundings. For this, the minister said that the services of panchayat and municipal sanitation staff should be utilized. If necessary, orders will be issued from the collectors to provide the services of municipal and panchayat sanitation staff. The minister clarified that especially the stock registers should be maintained transparently.

Construction of toilets with the help of Swachhandra Corporation

Minister Savita announced that construction of toilets in hostels will be undertaken with the help of “Swachhandra Corporation”. For this, the respective hostels should have space as well as water facilities. The respective Hostel Welfare Officer should draw the attention of the district high officials for the construction of toilets and that the existing toilets in the hostels should be cleaned regularly. The Minister warned that lack of cleanliness can have a serious impact on the health of the students. She said that the kitchens should also be kept clean and free from dampness. The Minister ordered that only warm drinking water should be provided along with hot food, keeping in mind the winter season. 

Police patrolling around hostels

Minister Savita ordered that the safety of students be given top priority. She said that health checks should be conducted on students twice a month by local PHC staff. She especially wanted the health of students returning home for vacations to be thoroughly examined. She also wanted steps to be taken to patrol around the hostels with the police at night. She said that this would increase the self-confidence of the students and give them the feeling of being under police protection. At the same time, she said that anti-social activities around the hostels could be curbed.

One hundred percent results must be achieved

Several officials told the minister that the hostel students have been divided into A, B and C grades based on their academic progress. Speaking on the occasion, she said that efforts should be made to ensure that the students of BC hostels get 100 percent results in the hostel exams to be held in the next three months. Minister Savita directed that special attention should be paid to the students in C grade, identifying the subjects in which they are lagging behind and providing them with study material and conducting special classes with tutors. 

Take help from donors

Minister Savita said that CM Chandrababu's government is sanctioning funds for the development of BC hostels, and at the same time, along with MP LADS and CSR funds, they should also take the help of donors. She suggested that DBWSOs should meet MPs and submit petitions for MP LADS funds for the development of hostels in their districts. She said that she has already written letters to several MPs. She said that she would  meet collectors and collect funds from industries in the district for CSR funds. Along with them, she would also contact local donors and collect donations. She suggested that their names should be written on heaters and water plants purchased with the funds they provide. 

Awareness programs on harmful effect of drugs

Minister Savita said that awareness programs should be organized in hostels on the harm caused by drugs. The minister said that police officers like CI and SI should be invited and explained about the legal steps to be taken if drugs are used. Similarly doctors should be invited and asked to explain about health problems. Additional Assistant Director of BC Welfare Department Chandrashekhar Raju, JD Sridhar Reddy and other officers participated in this video conference.