Social Welfare Minister R. Kishore Babu said the government was contemplating converting social welfare hostels into residential schools in a phased manner. It was expected to cost the exchequer nearly Rs 10,000 crore. Necessary steps for improving facilities in hostels were taken, he said while making a surprise inspection of social welfare and tribal girls’ hostels at Montessori College in Vijayawada on Sunday. On the occasion, Mr. Kishore Babu said the government was committed to welfare of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and was doing its best to alleviate their plight.