Hyderabad: Telangana Social Welfare Minister Adluri Lakshman Kumar on Wednesday ordered monsoon safety measures across Social Welfare and Tribal Welfare residential institutions. He directed officials to ensure clean drinking water, hot water, hygienic hostels and uninterrupted teaching ahead of the rainy season.
The Minister chaired a review meeting at the Telangana Secretariat. He reviewed admissions, academic administration, student welfare and monsoon preparedness in the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGSWREIS) and the Telangana Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (TGTWREIS).
He instructed officials to conduct admissions transparently and strictly according to the prescribed rules. Meanwhile, he directed them to provide seats to all eligible students from poor and disadvantaged families without delay.
Officials informed the Minister that admissions had increased this academic year. Further, he instructed authorities to expand hostel accommodation, classrooms, kitchens and teaching staff to match the higher student intake.
He also directed officials to appoint temporary teachers wherever vacancies exist after obtaining approval from district collectors. He said staff shortages should not interrupt academic activities.
The Minister asked every institution to implement preventive health plans before the monsoon. He instructed officials to provide hot water and safe drinking water. He also directed them to clean water tanks regularly and test water quality.
Monsoon safety measures include health and hygiene
Adluri Lakshman instructed institutions to use purifiers, chlorination and filtration systems wherever necessary. Meanwhile, he directed authorities to maintain toilets and bathrooms in girls’ hostels every day.
He also asked institutions to provide sanitary napkins, disposal units and menstrual health awareness programmes. Wherever necessary, officials should also arrange access to women counsellors.
The Minister instructed every Gurukul to maintain first-aid kits, emergency medicines and basic medical facilities. Further, he asked officials to strengthen coordination with nearby Primary Health Centres and government hospitals. Students showing symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea or skin infections should receive immediate medical attention.
He also ordered regular inspections of kitchens, dining halls and food storage rooms. Authorities must ensure an uninterrupted supply of quality vegetables, milk, eggs and other nutritious food items.
Additionally, Adluri Lakshman said the government had taken a preliminary decision to expand the Centres of Excellence in phases. He instructed officials to prepare an action plan to improve access to competitive examination coaching and higher education for students from rural and backward areas.
The Minister also directed officials to credit employees’ salaries on the first day of every month. They should complete all financial and administrative procedures in advance. He said employee welfare and responsible service delivery are essential for improving student outcomes.
Finally, Adluri Lakshman instructed officials to strengthen monitoring from the head office to district and school levels. He asked them to submit weekly reports on sanitation, drinking water, healthcare, food quality and monsoon preparedness. He also directed authorities to rectify deficiencies immediately.