SAGA OF HOSTEL INMATES;

Madikeri July 15, 2006

The backward community hostel inmates at South Kodagu are suffering with multidimensional problems. A team led by the Taluk Panchayath president had a first hand experience of their problems and expressed helplessness!

The president H.N.Rani, vice president Neelamma B.C. vivited backward community hostels yesterday and alleged that the Taluk social welfare officer has neglected the hostels and totally failed to maintain the buildings and provide facility to students living in them. They alleged that they have received complaint against the officer who would go to office in a drunken state each day and would not care for the elected representatives. He was suspended several times due to dereliction of duties and challenges the representatives to try to suspend him again.

Rani said that a complaint would be lodged against him with the Zilla Panchayath. The team was shocked to learn that the boys’ hostel at Kutta had no power since eight days. The boys are forced to take bath in cold water at this cold mosoon.The current wires were strewn all over, posing life risk. The boys had to lift water from an old well which is very deep and dirty. And only one toilet exists for fifty students!

Even the girls’ hostel at Kutta was no different. The inmates here were also suffering the same way. The tem noticed that an empty unit was erected by spending more than a lakh in vain and shown as solar heating unit. It was never operated and money was swallowed in the scheme, the public there complained.

The hostel inmates at Balele, Thithimathi, Srimangala and other places complained that they are not given books and uniforms even after fifty days of school.Though the amount was being drawn many of these hostels does not have proper supply of food.

The taluk panchayath has decided to look into the matter after due consultation with the Zilla Panchayah.

SEARCH FOR BOYS BODY ON;

Search for the fourth standard boy Hemanth is still on at Mukkodlu. Villagers gathered in large number to trace the body at Mukkodlu river yesterday blocked the vehicles of peoples representatives and blasted them for their negligence.

Villagers who blocked Zilla Panchayath vice president Neelamma and Taluk Panchayath president Kishore Kumar alleged that the boy would not have died if the local bridge was repaired by them They said that the boy slipped down into the river as he was crossing the dilapidated bridge. They stated that though the bridge work was sanctioned in the action plan, the negligent officials and peoples representatives did not take up the work. They reminded that this is the third such death caused around that village as the bridges connecting small villages are all in a dilapidated position since so many years.

The visibly shaken representatives assured immediate action. The body is not yet traced as the rainfall is on the increase since two days.