HC Expresses Dismay Over Poor Amenities At Welfare Hostels In AP
The court observed that the students were not being provided with potable water, nutritious diet, beds, bed sheets and pillows when they were staying in the social welfare, BC welfare and Gurukula hostels.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court has expressed dismay over poor amenities at welfare hostels in the state.
The court observed that the students were not being provided with potable water, nutritious diet, beds, bed sheets and pillows when they were staying in the social welfare, BC welfare and Gurukula hostels.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi held a hearing on a PIL here on Wednesday.
The court opined that there were no bathrooms and toilets in proportion to the number of students. Even if they existed, they were not in a position to be used. Some hostel buildings were in a dilapidated condition, it said.
It was noted that in a social welfare girls’ hostel at Narsipatnam, with 228 girls, there was only one toilet and one bathroom. So was the case at a government school for the visually disabled at Vizianagaram, where, for 33 students, the posts of assistants remained vacant.
At a government hostel in Vizianagaram, it was noted that 168 girl students pursuing intermediate and degree courses were staying in 10 rooms. In each room, 16 students were asked to stay and they slept on the floor with no mattresses.
The court directed the chief secretary and social welfare director to appear for the next hearing on July 21.