Nellore: Top women's college hit by lack of infrastructure

Nellore: The 1,500 odd students and teaching staff of Dodla Kousalyamma Government Degree College for Women, the first college established exclusively for women in 25 acres of land way back in 1964 in Nellore region,  has been facing innumerable problems due to lack of toilets and insufficient water supply.

One of the few colleges in AP with National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC - A grade besides UGC recognition as Centre with Potential for Excellence, the college also lacks accommodation for NSS (National Service Scheme), NCC and Controller of Examination because three of their rooms have been occupied by Vikrama Simhapuri University.

College administration is worried over losing the A-grade as the facilities are mandatory. In addition to this there is no waiting hall in the college.

More than anything an abandoned British time Collector's bungalow in the premises of the college has been causing nightmares to the authorities. The dilapidated building with overgrown shrubs became a favourite haunt of snakes.
No day passes for the staff working in the women's hostel apart from watch and ward staff without sighting snakes, especially during nights.

The college authorities need permission from the revenue authorities to demolish the building. Though they have been taking the issue to the notice of the authorities from time to time, there was hardly any response.

Much to their shock, a civic body member sarcastically advised the college management to rear mongoose to overcome the snakes menace when they approached him anticipating a positive response sometime back.

“We don't have funds to demolish the building even if permission is granted to pull down the structure,” Principal of Degree College Ms Sailaja said.
She said that they are banking on funds from Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) to overcome the accommodation issues and basic infrastructure such as sufficient water and toilets.

According to the Principal, RUSA provides Rs 70 lakhs for renovation, Rs 70 lakhs for new buildings and Rs 60 lakhs to procure equipment for institutions identified as Centres with potential for excellence.