Delay in textbooks, uniforms hits Telangana social welfare students

Students enrolled in TGSWREIS are facing severe academic setbacks due to the non-availability of textbooks, uniforms, and essential supplies. Despite the academic year being well underway, over 42,000 intermediate students, mostly from marginalised backgrounds, continue to study without textbooks and it even threatens their preparation for crucial exams like JEE and NEET.

Hyderabad: From lack of textbooks, uniforms to stationery, issues galore for the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS) students this academic year.

Even after three months since the commencement of the new academic session 2025-26, the intermediate students of these institutions are pursuing academics without textbooks.

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According to rough estimates, nearly 42,000 intermediate students mostly hailing from economically weaker and marginalised sections are studying in 268 Social Welfare Residential Junior Colleges across the State.

Not just affecting academics and intermediate public examinations, lack of textbooks may take a toll on students’ ability to crack JEE, NEET and other competitive entrance examinations.

“This is not just a delay but a crisis created. Every year we receive textbooks on time. In the absence of textbooks, we have arranged old textbooks or borrowed from old (former) students,” a postgraduate teacher said, requesting anonymity.

Adding to the woes, according to teachers, the TGSWREIS students of all classes have not received their uniforms, PT and nightdresses, towels, bed sheets and blankets despite three months into the academic year.

“Students are either coming in old uniforms or in civil dress,” a senior teacher of a social welfare residential school said.

In addition, the Society is yet to provide trunk boxes for students who enter the society at the Class V and Intermediate first year level. Further, the institutions are awaiting their maintenance grants of Rs. 25,000 per month, meant for maintaining school/junior and emergency purposes.

“Though the cosmetic charges have been enhanced, students are yet to receive them. Except for textbooks and notebooks for lower classes, the intermediate students did not receive their textbooks. Moreover, no student got their uniform and other items mandated in the society,” a teacher said.

Repeated calls and messages to TGSWREIS PRO K Amruth for a comment went unanswered while TGSWIRES Joint Secretary Sakru Naik B hung up the call before asking to connect with the procurement department.

However, it has been learnt that the delay in textbook distribution issue to intermediate students is attributed to Telugu Akademi’s delaying in supplying them to institutions. As for other items, issues in the tendering process led to interruption of supply of uniforms, PT and night dresses.