BC Welfare Hostels Top State IVRS Survey

The survey findings reflected improvements in hostel management, food quality, sanitation, health safety and academic support following the coalition government assuming office. Parents reportedly expressed greater satisfaction with BC hostels compared to other welfare institutions.

BC welfare minister S. Savita said there are 1,110 BC boys’ and girls’ hostels functioning across the state. She alleged that the previous government had neglected the hostels, leaving diet bills unpaid and infrastructure in poor condition.

The minister said the coalition government cleared pending diet arrears worth Rs. 110 crores soon after assuming office and has since been releasing diet and cosmetic charges regularly.

She stated that nearly Rs. 100 crores have been spent over the past 23 months on hostel repairs and infrastructure development.

Savita said the government also established SR Sankaran Resource Centres in 104 hostels at a cost of Rs. 2 crores to provide digital learning facilities.

“To improve student health and hygiene, the government constructed toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission, installed RO plants, mosquito screens and inverters, and supplied cooking utensils and other materials,” the minister said.

She added that nutritious meals with fine rice are being served and that steps are underway to recruit 1,291 sanitation workers.

Savita said Facial Recognition System (FRS)-based attendance was introduced for students and staff in BC hostels for the first time, helping save over Rs. 6 crores annually by preventing misuse of supplies.

She said the HPTS (Hostel Procurement and Tracking System) app had also been launched for real-time monitoring of cleanliness, menu implementation and drinking water facilities.

The minister credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for the reforms and continuous monitoring of hostel administration.

She added that BC hostel students recorded an 85.99 per cent pass percentage in the recent SSC examinations.