Expert committee pays surprise visit to hostels, remand homes

The Expert Committee on Prevention of Violence and Sexual Abuse of Women and Children, led by V S Ugrappa, paid a surprise visit to hostels and remand home in Mangaluru on Saturday.

The Committee visited BCM hostel at Chilimbi Gudde. Ugrappa said the Committee will discuss supplying napkins from the government to the inmates of post-matric hostels. The Committee inspected the rooms, reading rooms and kitchen toilets.

Common entrance

Speaking after visiting the sports hostel for children of eight to 16 years at Lalbagh, Ugrappa said the hostel accommodates both boys and girls in the building. The kitchen, dining hall and entrance to the rooms of boys and girls are common.

“At a time when atrocities on women and children are on rise, why has the district administration failed to take a note of it,” he questioned.

“At least the entrance to the rooms for boys and girls should be separate,” Ugrappa suggested. “The BCM hostel is overcrowded. Six to seven children are accommodated in a room. They do not have proper facilities for reading,” he said.