Date:04/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110451450300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Appalling conditions in social welfare hostels, says TDP

Correspondent

Devender Goud and other leaders take up ‘welfare yatra’

There are about 8.5 lakh students in hostels in the State
‘State failed in implementing directions of High Court in improving conditions’

MAHABUBNAGAR: Telugu Desam polit bureau member T. Devender Goud opined that conditions in social welfare hostels would improve if the government diverted the entire amount being spent on publicity to the maintenance of hostels.

‘Enhance mess charges’

Speaking to mediapersons here on Saturday, he demanded that the mess charges to hostel inmates be enhanced to Rs. 900 per head.

He said that the ‘welfare yatra’ undertaken by them was not aimed at gaining political mileage. He said that conditions in the hostels prompted them to undertake the welfare yatra. He said there were about 8.5 lakh students in the hostels in the State.

Devender Goud said that the State government has miserably failed in implementing the directions of the High Court and Human Rights Commission in improving the conditions in hostels.

Mr. Goud and other Telugu Desam State leaders Kadiam Srihari, Dr. Manda Jagannadham slept in S.C. boys hostel at Mahabubnagar on Friday night. Mr. Goud alleged that authorities concerned have prevailed upon students to reply them for every question they asked that everything in the hostel was very good.

He said that about 60 students were staying in one room in S.C. boys’ hostel where they stayed for the night. He said the condition of toilets in the hostels was very appalling.

Earlier in the morning, the Telugu Desam leaders visited the girls’ hostel. Later, they visited hostels in Jedcharla and Kalwakurthy town where they addressed public meetings. They also went to Deverkonda as a part of their welfare yatra.