SCB member fumes over girls hostel

Hyderabad: The proposed location of a hostel for working girls has become a bone of contention in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board. A one-acre vacant land parcel in Mudfort has been shortlisted to construct the hostel. SCB vice-president J. Ramakrishnas said the project was on top of the SCB agenda and construction was likely to commence in two to three months. He said the hostel would provide accommodation to meritorious girls from the districts to study in Hyderabad as well as working women whose families reside in districts. Sources said the hostel could accommodate 500 persons, and would cost up to Rs 4 crore.

The location has not found favour with SCB Ward-3 member B. Anitha Prabhaker. Welcoming the move to construct a hostel for women, she said the area that was selected was not suitable because it was surrounded by two or three big slums. “Women may face a nuisance because of drunkards moving about at night in these slums. Any untoward incident will damage the reputation of SCB. We urge the authorities to finalise a safer location,” she said. She said Ward-3 comprised 10 slums that lacked basic facilities like water, roads and electricity. 

The hostel was sanctioned by the Union women and child welfare ministry. The Centre will bear 75 per cent of the cost of constructing the hostel, the remaining 25 per cent has to be taken care of by the SCB.