SRIKAKULAM:The government is readying to close down the tribal hostels in the jurisdiction of the district ITDA. After permanently closing the tribal hostels, Tribal Welfare Department officials will shift the students to the Ashram schools of their choice.
The government machinery is ready to shut down the tribal boys hostels in Bhamini, Tekkali and Palakonda divisions.
The Bhamini Tribal Boys Hostel, established in 1969, has been a beacon of education. Due to the hostel, the tribals showed interest in educating their wards.
The hostel houses 120 students, studying from third to 10th standard.
The parents showed interest in the tribal hostel since they could meet and enquire about their children’s education.
Tribals are shunning the Ashram school, located about 15 km from Bhamini on a hilltop at Manumakonda, since it is not easily accessible. The tribal leaders feel that if the hostels were to be closed and boys sent to various Ashram schools, the dropout rate would increase. Similar is the case with the decades old hostels in Tekkali and Palakonda divisions.
The 140 students in the Tekkali hostel will be shifted to Jayapuram Ashram school and 110 boys studying in Palakonda hostel to Baddumasangi Ashram school.
Tribal organisations are opposing the move. Aadivasi Vikas Parishad state secretary B Tejeswara Rao alleged that the government was closing the tribal hostels just for saving the salary bill.
Tribal Welfare deputy director Nayak said that the students were being shifted to Ashram schools for better education. There is scarcity of space in hostels and the students are being shifted as per the government order.
Nayak added that measures would be taken to arrest dropout rate.