The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : I am forced to clean toilets: student of Govt. hostel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 18, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

I am forced to clean toilets: student of Govt. hostel

Staff Reporter

ERODE: Vani (name changed), a college student, dreads returning to her hostel. She resides at the State Government's Adi Dravida Welfare Department-run girls' hostel at Surampatty Valasu, a couple of kms south of the Collectorate.

At the hostel, she is forced to drop her student identity to don the role of a conservancy worker, which she does reluctantly. "I am forced to clean toilets and bathrooms much against my wishes. I just hate it. I wish I returned home and pursued my studies from there," rues the girl, who hails from a village about 15 km from here. "I regret joining the hostel," she adds.

The other difficulty the socially backward students undergo is insufficient water supply. Everyday the students complain that they are forced to wait for long hours for water. Even little ones in Class V, VI and VII are not spared of the trouble of carrying water. Area residents say almost every morning the students ask water. In the evenings they continue the task with their uniforms on. "Very often you can spot the children carrying heavy pots," says a resident. Poor quality grains

Students complain it is difficult to stomach the food, which often stinks. A hostel worker, on conditions of anonymity, admits to cooking poor quality grains. "The grains and worms go hand in hand. With it comes the stench." To ensure that these girls get good, healthy food the Government spends Rs. 300 a school student a month. For a college student it spends Rs. 400. Expressing the difficulty in ensuring the quality, an Adi Dravida Welfare Department officer says at the present rate the Government will have to spend at least Rs. 1,000 a student a month to ensure a healthy meal.

Topping it all, the girls and the hostel worker complain of unauthorised entry of men. The hostel warden, who must be present round-the-clock, was not available when The Hindu tried to reach her at the hostel. Workers said she was away. When asked about the complaint, a Government officer promised action if specific instances were brought to his notice.

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