Kerala - Kollam   

Minister visits hostel

KOLLAM: Minister for the Welfare of Scheduled and Backward Communities A.K. Balan visited the Pre-Matric Hostel for Boys here on Thursday. He talked to the hostel residents and assured them of solutions to their problems. The chairperson of the Kollam Corporation’s Health Standing Committee, Prasanna Earnest, also accompanied him.

Later talking to press persons, the Minister said the outbreak of skin disease at the hostel was an isolated incident. The officers concerned had not informed the higher authorities of the situation there, he said. The mandatory consultative committee for the hostel had also not been constituted. But soon after the situation got exposed, steps were taken to address the situation, Mr. Balan said.

The officers responsible for the situation had been placed under suspension. New cots and clothes were being supplied to the students. All measures to improve the sanitation system of the hostel were also being taken, he added.

The Minister said the State government was taking special care of the students from the scheduled communities. Their benefits had been hiked by 50 per cent. More than Rs.46 crore had been allocated to clear their dues. Another Rs.15 crore had been allocated to renovate the two hundred and forty six hostels for students from the scheduled communities, he said.

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