The Telangana government has announced a significant allocation of ₹60 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. This crucial funding is earmarked for urgent improvements in social welfare hostels serving BC, SC, ST, and Minority communities across the state.
These funds will cover essential needs such as diet charges for students, salaries for temporary staff, and vital repairs to infrastructure like motors. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy personally distributed the cheques to welfare department officials during a review meeting held on Monday, underscoring the immediate priority of these works.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of transparency and efficient operations. He called for the immediate implementation of facial recognition systems for all students and staff (both teaching and non-teaching) to ensure continuous monitoring and enhance accountability. Furthermore, he directed officials to establish a comprehensive data system for hostels and develop a dedicated mobile application to monitor the quality and nutritional value of food provided to residents.
Officials were also instructed to ensure timely distribution of books and uniforms to students, with senior officials overseeing the entire process. A dashboard for hostels is to be created, where data on available facilities, necessary repairs, and general maintenance work will be regularly uploaded.
A strong focus was placed on student health. The Chief Minister mandated linking hostels with local government and private medical colleges, community health centers, and area hospitals. Regular health camps must be organized, and doctors should be readily available for emergency medical care. District Collectors and Additional Collectors are tasked with frequent hostel visits to inspect facilities and ensure students receive the best possible care.
To streamline financial management, Chief Minister Reddy directed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and Welfare Principal Secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh to prepare a detailed monthly report outlining funding requirements for scholarships, staff salaries, diet expenses, and maintenance. He also emphasized maximizing funds from centrally sponsored schemes for hostel upkeep and ensuring prompt release of matching grants from the state.
In a forward-looking directive, the Chief Minister called for a 24/7 hotline to ensure immediate access to medical professionals. He encouraged students to leverage modern technologies for competitive exam preparation. Finally, he advised officials to actively promote information about available facilities through social media platforms, while also countering any misinformation regarding the welfare hostels’ management.