No takers for pre-matric hostel in Ch'nagar

 Despite the State government providing free food, warm blankets and other facilities, the Pre-Matric Students Hostels in the district have failed to attract students. There is sharp decrease in the number of admissions to the hostels

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There are 40 hostels run by Social Welfare department in the district, with admissions open for  3,355 students. But, the number of students who have been admitted for the current academic year is only 1,925.

Though the officials of departments of Social Welfare, Backward and Minorities Welfare and district SC/ST Welfare have been visiting villages and trying to convince the students to take up the hostel facility, it has proved futile, as the parents are not willing to admit their wards to the hostels.

Students studying between fifth and tenth standard are eligible for admissions. Breakfast, food, uniforms are provided free to the students. The inmates are also provided money for haircuts, medical treatment, and toothpaste. Despite the hostels having the basic facilities, it has failed to attract students and their parents, complain officials of Social Welfare department.

Reasons

As the State government donates free bicycles to students along with mid-day meals, the parents don’t feel the need to send their wards to hostels.

There are three Kittur Rani Chennamma hostels, and 10 Morarji Desai Residential schools in the district, coming under Social Welfare and other departments. While the number of students attending entrance exams for these 13 hostels are more, ironically, there are no takers for the pre-matric hostels.

However, efforts are on to convince the students to join the hostels, said District Social Welfare officer Rajesh G Gowda.