Kesinga: Two hostels built for students in Odisha’s Kalahandi district remain unused nearly seven years after construction began, leaving students without the accommodation and basic facilities the project was intended to provide.
The two hostels in Tundla village under Kesinga block were sanctioned in the 2019-20 financial year for Rs 1.8 crore. Each hostel was designed to accommodate 120 students, with a combined capacity of 240. However, the buildings remain locked and lack essential furniture, electricity connections and sleeping arrangements.
The hostels were intended to provide accommodation and other facilities for students from economically disadvantaged tribal and Dalit communities, helping them pursue their education.
A total of 490 students from Classes VI to X study at the PM SHRI Government Higher Secondary School in Tundla.
The unused hostel buildings have reportedly begun to deteriorate. The paint is peeling, cracks have appeared or are developing in several sections, and basic amenities such as beds, tables and electricity connections are missing. The main gates remain locked.
The school’s headmaster, Jitendra Kumar Pradhan, said a junior engineer had inspected the hostels about two months ago but found that essential facilities for students were unavailable.
Pradhan said he had been asked to take charge of the hostels but declined because the necessary equipment and arrangements for students’ accommodation, sleeping and dining were not in place.
Junior engineer L.R. Swain said he was not associated with the project during construction and was later sent by the department to inspect the work at Tundla. He acknowledged that the facilities required by students were still unavailable.
Villagers have warned that they will block National Highway 49 and stage a protest outside the district collector’s office if the remaining work is not completed and the hostels are not handed over to the school by next month.