Date:25/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/25/stories/2007112553090300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Facilities at SC hostels appalling: House panel

Correspondent

Chittoor: The House Committee on Schedule Castes has expressed its displeasure against the lack of facilities in the Scheduled Caste hostels and wanted the authorities to provide all amenities as per Government guidelines.

The Committee, which held a review meeting with the officials on Friday, said that children in the hostels were being affected with different types of diseases due to improper maintenance and care.

Panel chairman S .Gangaram wanted the concerned officers to insist the doctors in their areas to examine the children once in a month.

Referring to the atrocity cases against the SCs, the chairman felt that police have not acted speedily and wanted the SP to appoint DSP level officers to enquire into the cases.

The committee also felt that the concerned officials were not implementing the schemes intended for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes though the Government was spending cores of rupees on them.

Collector S. S. Rawat said that special officers will be appointed to foresee the conditions in the hostels and to set them in a proper conditions.

The committee reviewed the activities of social welfare department, SC Corporation, DRDA, DWMA, Animal Husbandry, Housing and other related departments.