Take steps to enhance quality of hostels: Karnataka minister to officials

Dharwad: Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa has instructed officials to take necessary measures to guarantee the quality of construction of hostels in their respective districts, while also urging them to expedite the completion of ongoing projects.

He was speaking after chairing a review meeting for all corporations, boards, and commissions under the social welfare department at Dharwad.

Acknowledging Dharwad's status as an educational hub, the minister assured additional funds and approval for the construction of more hostels. He directed the additional director of the social welfare department to submit a proposal in connection with this.

The Minister said the Belagavi division has 270 hostels across seven districts, encompassing 206 pre-matric hostels for boys and 64 for girls. These facilities accommodate 20,341 students, comprising 14,619 boys and 5,722 girls.
Additionally, there are 139 post-matric hostels, with 87 for male students and 52 for females, across the seven districts. These hostels cater to a student population of 23,483, including 14,963 boys and 8,520 girls.

The minister stated that the department is dedicated to providing quality education, nutritious meals, and robust infrastructure to all students.

The Social Welfare Department has earmarked Rs.1026.73 crore for renovating SC hostels across the state, of which Rs.753.28 crore has already been disbursed. Construction is underway for about 42 new hostels.

The scholarship and incentive programme for SSLC students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes continues, with 24,177 applicants for the academic year 2022-23. In the current year, 11,263 students have applied, and the disbursement of incentives is underway.

The minister assured that necessary funds will be given to ensure the nutritional quality of meals served in department-hosted hostels. Since January 2023, a total of 343 cases of atrocities have been recorded in the seven districts of Belagavi division, affecting 533 victims.