Integrated welfare hostel still a far cry

Kurnool: The integrated hostel for SC, ST and BC boys in Kurnool for which foundation stone was laid in 2009 stands testimony to the numerous projects taken up by a government and abandoned by its successors. Even as seven years have gone by, the hostel remains far from completion till date, with potential beneficiaries of the project giving up on it.

The project was envisaged with an aim to house students of SC, ST and BC boys of Social Welfare schools was taken up in 2009 at an estimated cost of Rs 3.18 crore.

Of the total amount, the Tribal Welfare department had promised to bear Rs 1.68 crore and remaining by the SC Welfare department.

Former Law Minister Erasu Prathap Reddy laid the foundation stone on November 11, 2009. As per plan, the hostel was supposed to come up in an extent of three acres with an intention to accommodate the students of SC-2 hostel of Atmakur, Kothapalli and Velugodu Mandals.

But the contractor to whom the contract was given for the construction had only completed the ground floor and shirked off his responsibility to construct first floor as well which was included in the tender. In the meantime, the Congress government’s tenure had come to an end and the contractor who took up the project abandoned the construction.

Later, the TDP which came into power did not take any initiative to complete the pending project. Meanwhile, students who shifted from the three hostels could not be accommodated on the present premises and have eventually dropped out of schools. Some of them have joined private schools as they have no option.

By:Narendra Kumar