Surprise checks conducted in Agency area hostels

Srikakulam: Simultaneous surprise checks in 20 hostels at Sitampeta Agency area in the district on Sunday by the Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) project officer Lotheti Shiva Sankar and his team of officials exposed loopholes. The project officer personally conducted flash raids at two hostels at Sambham and Muthyalu villages and the ITDA officials conducted checks at another 18 hostels under the directive of the project officer.

On the occasion, it was found that chicken curry was not being served properly to students at the tribal welfare and residential hostels. The stock registers were not maintained properly and food items were not tasty, the students told the officials. The menu was also being followed according to the rules framed by the government and there was lack of supervision at the hostels.

The ITDA project officer vented his ire and pulled up the hostel wardens, the deputy director and assistant director of the Tribal Welfare Department. The ITDA project officer suspended deputy wardens of six hostels. He also issued memos to tribal welfare department deputy director D Seetharamayya, ATWO N Mallikarjuna Rao and A Mohan who is working as a junior assistant at the deputy director’s office.