KOCHI: Even before the women’s hostel of the Ernakulam Government Law College could throw open its doors it will reportedly be inaugurated on January 16 by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy there are already complaints that not enough has been done to make sure it functions smoothly and the staff are paid their salaries without hassle.
Additional Chief Secretary, higher education department has issued an order sanctioning the posts of matron, security staff, sweeper, cook, sanitation worker, and a night watchman for the hostel, mentioning their salaries.
But a senior official of the college claims the order lacks clarity on who will foot the bill for all of this and the day to day running of the hostel.
Going by the order the salaries alone will amount to Rs 13.39 lakh a year. MLA, Hibi Eden, who spent Rs 50 lakh from his MLA fund to build the hostel, says the College Development Council may have to initially foot the bill, but the government will reimburse it.
The response does not satisfy a college faculty, who says the CDC only has a fund of one lakh.
“How it can it use it for a handful of hostel students? The government must earmark enough funds for meeting all the expenses of the hostel,” she insists.
Five cooks of the hostel will be paid '46,500 , the highest in any hostel, according to the government order. The temporary staff, including matron and watchman will be appointed through Kudumbasree and only the warden will be on the rolls of the college.
“But the kitchen will needs utensils and the hostel furniture. Specific orders granting money must be issued for them,” believes a student.
