Some 100 hostel inmates of Ambaguda RSEWC School in Rayagada district on Tuesday walked three kilometers to apprise the district Collector of the problems they are facing in the hostel.
They alleged they were given oil and soap only once in the last nine months but the register shows they received them regularly. Instead of ‘dal’, they have been given ‘charu’ water, they complained. When protested, they were allegedly asked to leave the hostel.
They also told the district Collector that caste discrimination is prevalent in the hostel. Their hair is forcibly clipped and the hostel is devoid of an adequate number of toilets and drinking water facilities, they alleged.
“The quality of the food given to us is very poor. We are not getting eggs. They gave us oil and soap once and asked us to sign the register for five months. We are 200 students but there are only four to five toilets and those are without doors,” alleged Bipin Kuanr, a Class X student.
When asked, headmaster Bibhuti Bhusan Rath denied the allegations.
“They are not cutting their hair properly, not maintaining the dress code, not coming to school regularly, and sleeping in the hostel during school hours. When they are warned, they get angry,” said Rath.
The students said the district Collector has promised them to resolve their problems.