JOIN USClosure: After Kannada schools, now its BCM hostels
Now it is the turn of BCM hostels run by the State government to face the closure threat. Accordingly, six hostels run by the Backward Classes and Minority department are likely to be closed down if the government decides to close down BCM hostels with few students.
As per the directions of the government, the authorities have sent the list of six BCM hostels—Pre metric boys hostel at Bhagamandala, Chettalli pre metric boys hostel, Somwarpet pre metric boys hostel, Kodlipete pre metric boys hostel, Mayamudi pre metric boys hostel and Ponnampet pre metric girls hostel. If the proposal is accepted, then the children residing in these hostels will be sent to the neighbouring hostels from the next academic year.
The Kodagu district has 37 BCM hostels and 21 hostels run by the Social Welfare department.
“Compared to other districts, Kodagu is a small district. The distance between the towns and the villages are not much. As a result, the students need not stay in hostels to pursue their education. At the same time, majority of the schools provide mid-day meals, free uniforms, books and bicycles. Hence, the students are not showing interest in joining the hostels,” says an official.
At the same time, there is more demand for post metric hostels than pre-metric hostels. As Pre- University Colleges are situated at far off places, students have the need to join post metric hostels, the official added.
District Social Welfare Officer Rajesh G Gowda said that the state government had sought details on the hostels with poor attendance. Accordingly, the list has been sent. The proposal is in its initial stage. The government has not taken a clear decision on merger of hostels.
A proposal has been prepared for the merger of hostels run by backward classes and minority department with that of social welfare department or ITDP.
Backward Classes and Minority department in-charge official Puttaraju informed that running a hostel for five or ten students would be a burden on the government.
The government will have to bear the expenses of cook, warden, security guard.
To cut the expenses down, the government is planning to merge BCM hostels in the district.