Chief Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary and Kundgol MLA S. Shivalli has instructed officials to compulsorily install water purification units and CCTV cameras in every government residential school.
Chairing a progress review meeting of the Social Welfare Department here on Thursday, Mr. Shivalli said that the basic objective of starting residential schools by the government is to help the less fortunate to gain access to education. The officials have to treat the students as their own children and offer them good food, security, health and education. Those who have been failed in reaching government facilities to the children would face criminal charges, he cautioned.
Some of the school authorities at the Morarji Desai Residential School, Tarl-ghatta, were reportedly diverting food to hotels and relatives houses. Besides, there are complaints about not supplying sufficient food for the children.
After an inquiry, the school principal and the department officer have been transferred. To contain such activities, the government has made it compulsory to install CCTV cameras at the entrance of the schools and also in the kitchen. The taluk officials have to visit residential schools in their jurisdiction once a week and inspect whether the facilities have been provided or not, he said.
Mr. Shivalli also directed the officials to hold medical check-up camps following the high number of dengue and chikungunya fever cases being reported. Besides, they would have to carry out fogging.
Deputy Commissioner S.B. Bommanahalli told the Social Welfare Department officials to take the support of Panchayat Development Officers and health officials and see that no child is deprived of government facilities.