Bengaluru: Students from poor families have to put up with inadequate facilities such as absence of bathrooms, cots, and latrines, lack of tables and study materials, and poor security in backward class, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe girls’ hostels run by the Social Welfare Department.
The Mahila Morcha of the State Bharatiya Janata Party painted a grim picture of the condition of 740 hostels surveyed by it and said many students are living in unhygienic environment in congested rooms.
In 28 per cent of hostels more than 30 students were provided accommodation in a room which can accommodate only five students. Many students were sleeping in the dining hall, kitchen and outside the hostel, said a survey report.
Morcha president Bharati Shetty and MLC Shruti submitted the report to Social Welfare Minister H. Anjaneya.
Out of 1,342 hostels, the Mahila Morcha members conducted a survey of 740 hostels across the State and said in all hostels the number of students was more than the registered number. In 18 per cent of hostels, the number of rooms were not on a par with the number of students and 20 hostels were in dilapidated condition, the report said.
It recommended immediate shifting of Kittur Rani hostel of Koppal, Madhugiri taluk hostel, and provision of bus facility for hostel students of Yadgir. Several hostels were constructed in a haphazard manner and at isolated places, the report said.
The Minister said he would take steps to set right the issues in hostels and the process of recruitment of wardens was under way.
