Gadwal: District Collector B.M. Santosh stressed that student welfare in Gurukul schools and hostels must not be ignored. He insisted that incidents like the one at Jyotiba Phule BC Boys Gurukula School in Undavalli should not happen again.
A review meeting took place on Friday at the IDOC meeting hall to evaluate the management of residential schools and hostels. District Superintendent of Police (SP) Srinivas Rao also participated.
The Collector highlighted the state government’s focus on education. He warned that negligence in schools and hostels would lead to strict actions. He cited a recent incident where a deputy warden and a supervisor were suspended, and memos were issued to other negligent officials.
Mandal-level officials were instructed to work together to protect student welfare. Special officers are now appointed at the district level to oversee all mandals. These officers will visit schools twice a month to check on education, safety, drinking water, toilets, and other facilities.
Tehsildars and MPDOs must regularly inspect hostels and address any issues immediately. Schools are required to provide nutritious meals daily according to the menu, and the food committee must inspect meals daily. Records of meal quality, signed by at least two students, are mandatory. Any deviation or poor-quality food will result in strict actions against staff.
The Collector also stressed the importance of checking drinking water, toilets, sanitation, staff rooms, and kitchens during inspections. Any spoiled or pest-infested rice must be replaced immediately.
Officials must report hostel problems to the tehsildar, MPDO, and police. As the mandal-level magistrate, the tehsildar must act promptly. Serious issues should be reported directly to the Collector.
Unauthorized entries into school and hostel areas are banned, especially in girls’ hostels, where security must be enhanced.
District SP Srinivas Rao assured that the police are always ready to respond to incidents. He urged officials to act responsibly, noting that past protests were due to negligence and outsider interference.
He emphasized enforcing strict measures to prevent unauthorized entries, particularly in girls’ hostels. Outsiders should not access educational institutions, and violators will face legal action.
The SP also warned against inappropriate activities like drinking alcohol on school premises at night. He recommended cooperation between mandal-level officials and the police to maintain order.
The meeting included Additional Collectors Lakshmi Narayana and Narsinga Rao, Special Deputy Collector Srinivasa Rao, RDO Alivelu, all Mandal Tehsildars, MPDOs, Special Officers, Education Department officials, principals of Kasturba Gandhi Girls’ Schools, and other senior authorities.
