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The department had received funds from the Centre to the tune of Rs 7.50 crore during 1990-2006 for construction of 72 hostels in different districts of West Bengal. As of March 2006, the construction of seven of these hostels was either not started or had remained incomplete.
But what is more disturbing is how girls hostel are being used for purposes other than they were meant for.
The CAG report for the year ended March 2007 stated, “One hostel for 60 ST girls at Chanchal
in Malda district constructed in June 1996 at a cost of Rs 12.13 lakhs was being utilized for accommodating the offices of the sub-divisional officer and sub-divisional police officer.”
In another instance, a hostel for 80 SC girls at Aranghata in Nadia district, constructed in September 2001 for Rs 19.13 lakh was being used by local police personnel for residential purposes as of March 2007. This is despite the request of the BCW Department to the DM for immediate action for vacating the hostel.
The report also notes that several such hostels have remained vacant. Eight hostels constructed between December 2001 and August 2005 were vacant for the want of Superintendent/ Matron / other staff. Five of these hostels did not have furniture, electrification and sanitation facilities. One hostel constructed at Asansol in December 1997 at a cost of Rs 21.25 lakh for accommodating 70 ST male students remained vacant as the educational institutions in the area had their own hostels in the campus.
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