The conditions prevailing in SC, BC, and other social welfare hostels are highly unhygienic and the food being supplied to the students staying in them is of very poor quality. These apart, the hostels are in a dilapidated state.
These were noticed by the officials of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) during the surprise checks they conducted across the State recently.
The officials observed that corruption was rampant in many government-run hostels and the inmates were undergoing untold hardship.
Variations galore
In Guntur district, the officials raided the Pallepalem BC Hostel and found that only 35 students were staying in it as against 110 as per official records. Surprisingly, neither the students nor the staff members stay in the hostel at night.
In the Integrated Social Welfare Girls Hostel at Pithapuram in East Godavari district, the officials found variation in stock. The figures shown in registers and the stock available in the stores did not tally. Besides, food was not being provided as per the menu. “No records have been found here. The hostel premises are unhygienic and the warden is not staying in the headquarters. Similar conditions prevail in the BC Welfare Boys Hostel-2 at Amudalavalasa in Srikakulam district. The toilets are in a dilapidated condition here and the roof of the hostel building is leaking. The warden, P. Umamaheswara Rao, is not present in the hostel,” ACB Director-General R.P. Thakur told The Hindu .
Hostel or dump?
In Krishna district, the Social Welfare Boys Hostel-1 at Nandigama resembled a dump, he said.
Though there were five rooms in the hostel, 57 students had been accommodated in two rooms. The rooms were dirty. The inmates had no access to proper medical aid. The menu chart was not displayed and followed.
Insects in rice
The situation was no different in the G. Konduru BC Boys Hostel in the district. Insects were found in rice, the ACB official said.
The warden, Guru Brahmam, was not staying in the hostel. Eggs were not being served.
There was no staff movement register, Mr. Thakur added.
“The ACB will submit a report on the pathetic conditions and rampant corruption in the government hostels and recommend action against the erring staff. The raids will continue,” Mr. Thakur said.
