Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court expressed strong disapproval over inadequate allocation of funds and poor infrastructure in Dr BR Ambedkar gurukul welfare hostels, which serve over 90,000 students across the state. During a hearing, the court noted that between 2019 and 2024, less than 20 crore was spent on hostel facilities, with only 24.6 lakh allocated for the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Justice Chimalapati Ravi, questioned the previous govt’s nominal budget allocations and criticised the insufficient budget of 143 crore for the current year. The judges emphasised the urgent need to address basic amenities such as toilets, beds, bed sheets, drinking water, nutritious food, and mosquito nets in these welfare hostels.
The court further directed the chief secretary and commissioner of social welfare dept to submit a detailed report on the infrastructure in all gurukul hostels, the funds spent so far, and the estimated budget required to meet the guidelines set by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). District law enforcement agencies were instructed to inspect at least five hostels in their jurisdiction and report on the facilities provided, including feedback from students about essential needs like food, water, and sanitation.
The hearing was prompted by a public interest litigation (PIL) filed in 2023 by Kakinada resident D Akhil Sriguru Teja, highlighting the lack of basic facilities in welfare hostels.
Advocate G Arun Shourie, representing the petitioner, argued that the hostels failed to meet NCPCR standards, particularly in providing adequate toilets to students and other essentials.
