Govt-run hostels under Telangana HC scrutiny: Details on food, hygiene, and facilities sought

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court directed to file an additional compliance report regarding inadequate facilities for children staying at government-run hostels and residential institutions on Thursday.

The petitioner, Keethineedi Akhil Sri Guru Teja, Chairman of Help the People Charitable Trust, urged the High Court to direct the Telangana Government to provide facilities to children as per the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights 2018 Guidelines. Teja said, “It will benefit around eight lakh students in government institutions like Social Welfare Hostels, Tribal Welfare Hostels, KGBC,Asharam Schools, and residential schools of BC, SC, ST, and minority.”

Mohd. Imran Khan, Additional Advocate General representing the state government, filed a compliance report.

Petitioner highlights lapses in facilities for children in state-run hostels

Counsel Prabhakar Chikkudu, who is representing the petitioner, listed deficiencies in the compliance report. He noted that the compliance report lacked details about the mattresses, bed sheets, mosquito nets, quilts, and other items for the children. The list of toiletry and cosmetics products provided to children was also missing. He asked if there is a Reverse Osmosis(RO) water plant on the premises of the institution and if children are provided water from it, and if there are adequate bathrooms and toilets.

The food menu, which was supposed to be provided, includes sufficient quantity of milk and a nutritious diet per NCPCR guidelines, if the same was being supplied. It also includes the availability of Psychiatrists/counselors in Government-run Hostels and residential schools.The petitioner urged the Government to provide these details.

Agreeing with the same, Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao directed the Additional Advocate General to file an additional affidavit/compliance report with the missing details by January 22.