Bhubaneswar: The Scheduled Castes Development, Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare (SSD) Department had sanctioned Rs 857.15 crore for the construction of 1,524 Scheduled Tribes Girls Hostel (STGHs), but 53 STGHs remained non-functional as of March 2022, according to a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.
The CAG findings further noted that 13 STGHs were incomplete, and 16 STGHs had not been handed over to targeted schools due to non-construction of boundary walls.
The report also highlights issues with the administration of the Cess fund, including poor internal control systems and unfiled income tax returns. The SSD Department failed to follow up on constraints in STGH construction, resulting in Rs 5.32 crore being spent without yielding benefits.
The construction and functioning of ST Girls’ Hostels in the State have been plagued by several problems, including:
– Inadequate Facilities: 39 STGHs lacked kitchen spaces, and 41 STGHs lacked dining spaces.
– Poor Maintenance: Proposals for repair and maintenance had not been forwarded for 53 STGHs.
– Staff Shortages: Critical staff, such as Hostel Superintendents and Cook-cum-Attendants, were absent or inadequate.
– Health Concerns: 34 STGHs had not been visited by Medical Officers or Mobile Health Units during FY 2019-20.
