The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Rights violations in hostels”

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 10, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Rights violations in hostels”

S. Vijay Kumar

Inmates made to clean toilets and do kitchen work: study

Gruelling: Students at work in the kitchen of a hostel at Samayanallur in Madurai district.

MADURAI: An independent study conducted by a non-governmental organisation, Evidence, on living conditions of students in Adi Dravidar Welfare hostels has revealed “human rights violations and poor living conditions.” The State-wide study launched in Madurai district came out with findings in 41 hostels, including 11 girls’ hostels.

Besides unprotected drinking water, bad quality of food and unhygienic living conditions, students in many hostels accused the wardens of making them sweep and do the kitchen work. Some of the common grievances of students included bad quality of drinking water, food and toilet facilities. In a couple of hostels, schoolchildren claimed that they were made to clean toilets if they committed any mistake.

“We have taken signed statements from students who made specific charges against hostel authorities. Students in the Atchampatti hostel alleged that they were often beaten up for trivial issues. In hostels where there were no compound walls, snakes often entered kitchen and toilets. In the Mathur hostel, students go to school without having breakfast as the cook comes only after 10 a.m.,” said A. Kathir, Executive Director of ‘Evidence.’

Four teams that conducted the study managed to take photographs of students cleaning toilets, sweeping the hostel premises and chopping vegetables in the kitchen. “We have prepared a report with recommendations which will be sent to the Government.

“Form panel”

An effective monitoring mechanism has to be established to ensure proper functioning of Adi Dravidar welfare hostels. A committee of retired judges should be formed to investigate complaints of ill-treatment and human rights violations,” Mr. Kathir said. The study would be conducted in other districts also. Some of the recommendations made by the NGO include setting up of regional-level grievance cells, vigilance committee to check implementation of welfare schemes and medical teams to check health status of students at regular intervals.

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