Welfare officer, warden suspended

Irregularities in hostel noticed during ministers surprise visit

 
District In-charge Minister Dr Mumtaz Ali Khan issued direction to Additional Deputy Commissioner G S Naik, who was present at the press meet here, to suspend them.
The misuse of hostel facilities as well as the poor maintenance came to light when the minister paid a surprise visit to the hostel in Chintamani on Sunday.

On Monday he inquired both the officials at the press meet here. Elaborating on the plight of the students in the hostel he said, during his visit, he found the hostel in unhygienic condition. The bathrooms were stinking of stale remnants of meal, ‘mudde’ (ragi balls) and vegetables. The toilets had not been probably cleaned for months. The minister himself noticed the contractors supplying rotten vegetables to the hostel, he alleged.

The minister held the social welfare officer and the warden responsible for the poor maintenance of the hostel and took them to task in the presence of the media persons.
“There are no panes to the windows and doors, and bathrooms are stinking. I myself was nauseated by the foul smell while inspecting the hostel. How can the students live in the hostel unfit for human habitation?” he asked the social welfare officer.

But, Muniyamma failed to respond and tried to pass the buck on the warden. Irked over this the minister asked her, “Do you look after your children in the same manner? Are not the students in the hostel like your children?”

Taking the warden to task, the minister sought clarification for the students’ complaint that the goondas from outside were given shelter in the hostel. The students had complained to him that there are names of 200 students in the hostel registrar as against the actual number of the students i.e. 60. The anti-social elements have been given shelter here to hold rave parties, the students had alleged.  Warden Munivekatappa gave an evasive reply initially, but admitted his deeds later. Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Krishnappa was also present on the occasion.