The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Social welfare hostels to get facelift

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Friday, Aug 08, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Social welfare hostels to get facelift

B. Madhu Gopal

Rs. 2.60 crores will be spent on the renovation programme, says official

Hostels at Chinagadili and MVP Colony proposed
VSP, HPCL ready to provide funds

VISAKHAPATNAM: Good days are ahead for social welfare hostels in the district if the plans of the department are any indication.

Own building

“An amount of Rs. 2.60 crores will be spent on renovation of 76 of 84 hostels in the district. The State government has sanctioned a maintenance grant of Rs.70 lakhs in the first phase and the remaining amount will be released in subsequent phases. The funds will be utilised for construction of additional toilet blocks, painting of the old buildings, provision of water facilities and flooring,” says K. Ramakrishna, Deputy Director of the department.

“Five hostels are being run in rented buildings and the department is planning to construct its own building for shifting of these hostels. The hostels that are being run in private buildings are: the BC Boys Hostels at Muralinagar, A. Koduru and M. Alamanda and BC Girls Hostels at Payakaraopeta and P. Dharmavaram. The dilapidated hostel building at Elamanchili will be demolished and a new one constructed in its place. New buildings will be constructed for these six hostels at a cost of Rs.35 lakhs each.”

All the four BC Hostels attached to colleges in the city are being run in private buildings. “This is because getting a site in the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits is a difficult task. A proposal has been sent for construction of hostels at Chinagadili and MVP Colony. We will also approach Andhra University for allotment of its vacant land at Shivajipalem for construction of another hostel,” he says. “Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited have agreed to release funds for construction of hostel buildings. The buildings will be constructed in G + 3 or G + 4 as land is a premium in the city.”

Encouragement

BC students who have a bright track record will be enrolled in four identified private schools and they will be provided education at Government expenditure. The schools identified for admission of bright BC students are: Little Flower English Medium High School, Pendurthi, Pratibha High School, Narsipatnam and Prasanthi Vidya Niketan and JL English Medium High School (both in Anakapalle).

Any BC student studying from Class 5 to Class 10 in the district can apply for admission under this scheme. Selection will be based on the past academic record of the student. Admissions will be made by the end of August. Details can be had from the Social Welfare Office at MVP Colony or over phone No. (0891) 2551001.

“The schools were chosen on the basis of the faculty strength and quality and availability of residential facilities,” Mr. Ramakrishna adds.

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