Mismatch in expenses and facilities at Khammam residential school

Khammam: State government claims to be spending ₹1.20 lakh on each student of Mahatma Jyothiba Phule Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Residential Girls School at Raghunathapalem in Khammam district.

But a visit by Deccan Chronicle of the school functioning in a private building and interactions with its students and their parents shows a clear mismatch between the expenditure claimed and facilities, and their quality. The students studying in the school are from Lankapalli in Sattupalli mandal and Danavaigudem in Khammam mandal.

Parents and students spoke freely and elaborately with DC and expressed willingness to be identified. Still, their names are being modified to avoid any inconvenience to them. They mostly spoke about substandard food and unhygienic conditions at the residential school, aspects that distract them from fully focussing on their students. Many students do not have food to their fill, but just satisfy their hunger, they said.

K. Sravanthi, a 10th class student of the residential school, pointed out, “Nowadays, we are not being served even eggs, forget mutton or chicken. Our hostel authorities say they are skipping eggs as they spread fevers.

As per the standard menu stipulated, eggs must be there every day as part of their diet. Students should be served mutton curry twice in a month and chicken four times. Government used to pay between ₹950–1500 for each student based on their class. Minimum payment is ₹950 per month per student studying from classes 5th to 7th. ₹1,500 per month is paid for students from intermediate to degree. Attendance of the school is 700 against the strength of 900.

N. Anusha, a ninth class student, said, “Rice is not boiled properly many times in a month. We are afraid of eating it because we often end up with stomach pain.” When questioned, students found it hard to recall when chicken, mutton and egg had been served for a regular duration.

Yoganand, a parent, said, “The concept of residential schools introduced by the present government is good, but implementation is bad. My kids don’t even tell me problems they are facing in school. Better facilities would have made them focus on their students,” he remarked.

There is unanimity among students across classes about problems like mosquitoes, fans not working in their rooms, muddy water in bathrooms, and bad quality of food. When asked by DC, in-charge-cum-lecturer Swaroopa confirmed that eggs are not being served to students because they spread fevers.

P. Sankar, parent of a student, said, “There has been no parents-teachers’ meeting for last three years. Many problems being mentioned by kids are minor ones and can be solved without spending any money. Officials are not showing interest in meeting parents as they are afraid of being exposed,” he stated.

Soaps and sanitary pads are not being given to the girls for past three years, ever since Covid pandemic struck, on grounds of budget constraints. There is an ANM in the school, but she suggests the medicines. Parents have to buy medicines for their kids.

B. Sravani, a seventh class student, said, “The condition of toilets is worst. We also cannot use them during nights, as they are locked by the watchman.”