HYDERABAD : The Government has proposed to build 120 integrated hostel complexes for SC, ST and BC students next year. Each complex will accommodate about 400 students apart from teachers and wardens.

Social Welfare Minister Redya Naik announced it in the Assembly on Tuesday while replying to supplementaries. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had also approved a 25 per cent increase in mess charges from next June for 8.5 lakh students, he said.

The Minister admitted that 152 students of Social and BC Welfare hostels died to due a variety of reasons in the past one year. He told S. Sailajanath (Congress), K. Ramulu (Janata Party) and others that while 113 victims were from ST hostels, two were BCs and the rest SCs. Five STs in Srikakulam died at their residences and an inquiry was on.

Action initiated

Hostel wardens wherever at fault were suspended. Officials were instructed to rush sick students to hospitals, including NIMS, irrespective of the cost of treatment.

Engineering vacancies

Major Irrigation Minister P. Laxmaiah informed E. Rajender (TRS) that there were 238 vacancies of engineering staff in the department and that 200 retired engineers were being appointed under the employment guarantee scheme. He said the APPSC had been asked to fill the backlog posts in the department. Proposals were sent to the Centre for a Rs.1,500-crore irrigation project to create ayacut in 10 lakh acres.

Temple affairs

Endowments Minister J.C. Diwaker Reddy told D. Sridhar Babu (Congress) and others that orders were issued recently for providing Rs.1,000 a month for `dhoopa deepa naivedyam' and Rs.1,500 a month towards salaries of archakas to each temple not having sufficient income.

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