Though the district administration has taken several security measures, government hostels in Chamarajanagar district are only 60% full, as students are refusing to attend for fear of contracting COVID-19.
There are 99 government hostels in the district, out of which 56 are run by the Social Welfare Department, 31 by the Other Backward Classes Department, nine by the Scheduled Tribes Department and the remaining three by the Minorities Welfare Department. They have a cumulative capacity of 8,670 seats.
Department-wise data shows that only 1,193 students attended hostels run by the Social Welfare Department, which has a total of 5,845 seats. A total of 2,852 students had joined these hostels in 2019-20. Similarly, in 31 hostels run by the Other Backward Classes Department, out of a total of 2,705 hostels, only 724 students were admitted.
Bhagirathi, deputy director of the social welfare department, said that Chamarajanagar, a backward district, has made adequate provision for the accommodation of students in hostels. Yet, less than half the seats have been allotted in recent years.
He said that one of the reasons for the sharp drop in demand is that many parents prefer to enroll their children in residential schools like Kitturu Rani Chennamma, Morarji Desai and Dr BR Ambedkar. Another reason, she said, is that parents are not ready to send their children to government hostels because of fear covid, especially since experts have said that the third wave is likely to have the greatest impact on children. Parents are also encouraging their children to study in neighboring districts like Mysore.
District tribal officer Honnegowda said that one reason is that the government is opening more schools and colleges at Hobli level and residential schools in villages. “Students prefer to study in institutions close to home rather than staying in distant hostels,” he said.
NS Revanna, District Backward Classes Officer, said that the hostels of the department are well equipped and the authorities have taken all the COVID safety precautions, yet only 70% of the seats were filled this year. He said that his department is trying to clear the misconceptions and apprehensions among the parents and students and is trying to increase the admissions.
There are 99 government hostels in the district, out of which 56 are run by the Social Welfare Department, 31 by the Other Backward Classes Department, nine by the Scheduled Tribes Department and the remaining three by the Minorities Welfare Department. They have a cumulative capacity of 8,670 seats.
Department-wise data shows that only 1,193 students attended hostels run by the Social Welfare Department, which has a total of 5,845 seats. A total of 2,852 students had joined these hostels in 2019-20. Similarly, in 31 hostels run by the Other Backward Classes Department, out of a total of 2,705 hostels, only 724 students were admitted.
Bhagirathi, deputy director of the social welfare department, said that Chamarajanagar, a backward district, has made adequate provision for the accommodation of students in hostels. Yet, less than half the seats have been allotted in recent years.
He said that one of the reasons for the sharp drop in demand is that many parents prefer to enroll their children in residential schools like Kitturu Rani Chennamma, Morarji Desai and Dr BR Ambedkar. Another reason, she said, is that parents are not ready to send their children to government hostels because of fear covid, especially since experts have said that the third wave is likely to have the greatest impact on children. Parents are also encouraging their children to study in neighboring districts like Mysore.
District tribal officer Honnegowda said that one reason is that the government is opening more schools and colleges at Hobli level and residential schools in villages. “Students prefer to study in institutions close to home rather than staying in distant hostels,” he said.
NS Revanna, District Backward Classes Officer, said that the hostels of the department are well equipped and the authorities have taken all the COVID safety precautions, yet only 70% of the seats were filled this year. He said that his department is trying to clear the misconceptions and apprehensions among the parents and students and is trying to increase the admissions.
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