Bhatti Vikramarka Accelerates Repairs at Welfare Hostels, Directs Officials on Student Support

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka has set a one-month deadline for officials to complete all repair work at welfare hostels, schools, and residential institutions, following a review meeting held at the Secretariat on Thursday. The directive also encompasses timely settlement of outstanding bills and enhanced student support schemes.

The review brought together officials from the BC, SC and ST Welfare Departments, alongside Ministers Adluri Laxman Kumar and Ponnam Prabhakar.

Among the key decisions, Bhatti Vikramarka instructed the Finance Department to prioritise the clearance of approximately ₹7.5 crore in pending repair bills accumulated since 2023. He also asked officials to explore relocating students currently housed in private buildings to Young India Integrated Residential Schools where feasible.

Department secretaries have been directed to submit rent, diet, and cosmetic charge bills on a regular schedule to the Finance Department. Bhatti Vikramarka cautioned officials against delays in processing student-related payments, assuring them that the government would settle approved proposals without further hold-ups.

To enhance student performance in competitive examinations, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed departments to strengthen study circles aimed at improving success rates in UPSC, Group services, and other competitive tests. A monthly action plan has been requested for the construction of the Ambedkar Tower and the Babu Jagjivan Ram student hostel complex, with the Ambedkar Tower scheduled for inauguration on April 14, 2027.

The government has committed to implementing all self-employment programmes under the Rajiv Yuva Vikas scheme. Bhatti Vikramarka also sought a comprehensive report on a proposed electric scooter scheme and requested departments to submit annual and quarterly fund requirements for improved financial planning.

Officials were asked to develop proposals for establishing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Knowledge Centres across all districts in the state.

According to Bhatti Vikramarka, the government has increased diet charges by 40 per cent and cosmetic charges by 200 per cent since taking office, with these payments being released regularly alongside infrastructure improvements in welfare educational institutions.

During the meeting, officials reported that 1,810 candidates from areas outside Hyderabad have secured positions through study circles since 2014, with approximately 1,000 of these selections occurring after the current government assumed office. They also highlighted that residential schools require ₹29 crore monthly for operational expenses and requested the release of ₹27 crore in outstanding rent payments.