AP welfare hostels to be developed on war footing

Vijayawada: Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday reviewed the functioning of welfare hostels and said that an action plan is needed for integrated development of the SC ST BC Minorities' welfare hostels along with Gurukul schools.

During the meeting, he told the officials at Tadepalli near here that he has personally seen some of the hostels and more has to be done and this year. All Gurukuls and hostels should be developed on a war footing under Nadu Nedu.

"We have development schools in the first phase under Nadu Nedu and work is underway for constructing additional class rooms. Similar approach should be adopted for development of welfare hostels and gurukuls.

For decades together no one bothered about these hostels and gurukuls and it is for officials to take up this work and leave your mark on them not only in development works but also in the functional part of it," he stated.

Reddy said the budget should be increased for this purpose and prepare an estimate for good and hygienic conditions keeping in view the future of the students and set up a maintenance fund on the lines of school maintenance fund.

Wardens should be appointed in all hostels and other staff. A doctor should also be available under the Family Doctor concept. Nutritious diet should be provided and an estimate should be prepared for diet charges. Previous government has increased the charges only before elections.

"We have to take up permanent buildings for all hostels by next year and the existing hostels should be improved," he said. Ministers Ch. Venugopalakrishna, Merugu Ngarjuna, Chi3f Secretary Sameer Sharma, Finance Special CS SS Rawath, BC Welfare Secretary B. Jayalakshmi, Social Welfare Secretary MM Nayak, Minorities Secretary AMD Imtiyaz, Tribal Welfare Director M Jahnavi and other officials were present.