Transformational changes in Gurukuls, says Minister Adluri 

The State government is committed to social equity, quality education and dignity in public welfare. It places student health, environmental education and staff welfare at the centre of the policy discourse, Minister for Scheduled Castes Development Adluri Laxman Kumar said on Wednesday.

Presiding over an orientation programme with zonal officers and principals of all Social Welfare Residential Institutions for the first time, here at Dr. MCRHRD Institute of Telangana on Wednesday, he said his department would listen to all grievances and will resolve their service matters swiftly.

Pointing at recent concerns around quality of meals, students’ mental health and infrastructure of hostels, Mr. Laxman Kumar said the department proposed a slew of measures.

Fortnightly health checks

Soon, health check-ups of students in all welfare hostels in the State will be taken up as a priority and with services from the Health department, primary healthcare teams will visit hostels once every fortnight, he informed.

Over health and safety concerns too, the Minister informed that all aluminium cookware in State hostels will be replaced with steel sets. He directed officials for a State-wide replacement and for related cost proposals for the transition.

Additionally, he assured that only premium-grade fine rice would be supplied to all hostels through a coordination with the Department of Civil Supplies.

Teachers as torchbearers

Mr. Laxman Kumar instructed the zonal and institutional academic heads to monitor subject-wise performance and extend remedial support to underperforming students. While reminding about increased budgetary allocations for mess and cosmetic charges and resolving past delays, he stressed cleanliness and discipline in dining halls and cautioned against any violations of operational norms.

The Minister assured that pending service matters, salaries, health card issues, timely distribution of uniforms, shoes and textbooks will be taken care.

MoU with WWF India

The event also saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TGSWREIS and WWF India, to launch ‘Mission Prakruti’, a collaboration aimed at enhancing environmental consciousness among students and embedding sustainability into institutional practices. Under the initiative, students will be trained in environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation and sustainable campus practices.

TGSWREIS Secretary V.S. Alagu Varshini, WWF India representatives Anil Kumar, Shivaprasad Reddy and senior officials were present.