Amaravati, April 13: BJP State President P.V.N. Madhav on Monday expressed serious concern over the state of welfare hostels across Andhra Pradesh and urged the State government to take immediate corrective measures, calling for sweeping reforms to be undertaken during the summer vacation period.

Mr. Madhav made the remarks following a series of visits to SC, ST, and BC student welfare hostels as part of the party's ongoing "Janata Varadhi" outreach programme, during which he inspected both pre-matric and post-matric hostels and held detailed discussions with students, wardens, and staff. Based on complaints received through the programme, BJP district presidents submitted formal representations to collectorate offices across the State.

Acknowledging certain positive steps taken by the government, the BJP State president commended the acceleration in the clearance of diet bill payments, the release of cosmetic allowances, and a perceptible improvement in food quality, noting that these measures had gone some way toward restoring student confidence.

However, Mr. Madhav said several serious concerns persisted. He pointed to dilapidated buildings, acute shortage of drinking water, poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, lack of medical facilities, and absence of academic support as problems that continued to afflict hostels across the State. Particularly troubling, he added, was the atmosphere of fear that prevailed in certain hostels, where students were reluctant to voice their grievances.

A reform agenda for the summer

Urging the government to treat the summer recess as an opportunity for comprehensive institutional reform, Mr. Madhav put forward a detailed set of recommendations. These included conducting parent-teacher meetings at hostel level, establishing a formal grievance redressal system for students, carrying out infrastructure audits, rebuilding structurally unsafe buildings, revising diet charges upward, installing RO water purification plants, setting up dedicated sanitation monitoring teams, and appointing tutors along with providing digital learning facilities.

On the question of safety and transparency, he called for the installation of CCTV cameras in all hostels, the appointment of women wardens exclusively for girls' hostels, the routing of all bill payments through the Direct Benefit Transfer mechanism to ensure accountability, and the creation of a toll-free helpline for student complaints. He also recommended monthly medical check-ups and regular open meetings between hostel authorities and students.

More than just accommodation

Striking a broader note, Mr. Madhav said welfare hostels were not merely residential facilities but institutions that shaped the futures of children from marginalised communities. "It is the government's responsibility to ensure that every student feels a sense of pride in their hostel," he said.

He urged the administration to designate this summer as a "season of reforms" and to take prompt action that would rebuild student trust in government institutions.