Mysore: Students' hostels to be offered for adoption

Mysuru, Oct 22: Government students' hostels across the State will be offered to voluntary organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for adoption with a view to improving their maintenance and upkeep.

Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Oct 21 Social Welfare Minister D Sudhakar said that the hostel adoption programme would be on the lines of school adoption programme launched by the Education Department a few years ago.

The Government would provide grants to such hostels even after their adoption by selected NGOs. 'The NGOs coming forward to adopt hostels can also coach students,' he said.

The Social Welfare Department had 4,847 hostels under its purview across the State with a combined strength of 3.64 lakh students from backward classes, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities. The Government would issue orders allowing NGOs to adopt hostels in one week, he said.

"Rotary clubs, lions clubs and such voluntary organisations, besides institutions and trusts can adopt hostels," Mr. Sudhakar said.

The Government had decided to cancel the contract system for maintenance of hostels.

"We have cancelled the contract system in six districts this academic year. By the time the Government was formed, contracts had been renewed in other districts. We will cancel the contract system in these districts also next year," he said.

Mr. Sudhakar said the department was offering a four-day satellite-based training programme for 14,000 employees working in hostels.

The programme, organised in association with Abdul Nazir Sab State Institute for Rural Development (ANSSIRD) in Mysore, began on Tuesday. It was being held simultaneously in 175 centres across the State. "About 35 employees are attending the programme in each centre," he added. The Government had appointed 176 teachers for ashram schools in the State, he said. Bharatlal Meena, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare, was present.

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