Telangana: Integrated ladies hostel works at Government Degree College, Paloncha yet to start

The hostel was sanctioned one year ago under PM Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan, a Central scheme that aims to improve the curriculum, teachers' training, infrastructure, accreditation and employability

Kothagudem: Even after one year passed since an integrated ladies hostel was sanctioned at Government Degree College (GDC), Paloncha in Kothagudem district, the construction works are yet to begin.

It might be noted that the ladies hostel was sanctioned one year ago under PM Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (PM-USHA), a Central scheme that aims to improve the curriculum, teachers’ training, infrastructure, accreditation and employability.

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The hostel was sanctioned after the college established in the year 1991 secured NAAC ‘A’ grade with an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore to accommodate around 900 girl students from across the district.

Speaking to Telangana Today, SFI State assistant secretary B Veerabhadram said that the ladies hostel sanctioned as an annex to the college would be useful for government degree college students and other students who attend colleges at district headquarters from faraway places.

As there are a large number of tribal, scheduled castes, backward class and minority students in the district to increase the gross enrollment ratio of female students in higher education and to promote gender equality, the Higher Education Council has selected the college to build the hostel.

It is sad that although the funds have been sanctioned, the construction has not started yet. The delay in the construction of the hostel could lead to lapse of the sanPM-USHActioned funds. Officials concerned should take steps to commence the construction work, he demanded.

When contacted the college principal, Padma informed that the work tenders called online some time back have been cancelled due to technical reasons. Fresh tenders have been called and work agreement was done.

Plans have been made to lay the foundation stone by any of the three district ministers a fortnight ago. But the foundation laying ceremony had been stopped with announcement of local body polls and enforcement of election code, the principal said.

She stated that she had spoken to the local MLA K Sambasiva Rao to take steps to launch the works forthwith to ensure that the sanctioned funds would not lapse. The MLA consented to the idea of organising the foundation stone laying ceremony later. Hopefully the work would start in a week’s time, Padma added.