A recent audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) uncovered serious issues in government-run and aided student hostels in Maharashtra. The inspection highlighted mismanagement, lack of basic amenities, and financial irregularities. Despite substantial spending of Rs 2,321 crore, many hostels lacked essential facilities and were even found to be non-existent.
The CAG’s report, presented after a thorough examination of 18 government and 21 aided hostels, revealed a grim reality. The hostels were deficient in infrastructure like dining halls, computer labs, libraries, and basic necessities. Safety norms were ignored, with differently-abled students facing accessibility challenges in several locations.
Financial discrepancies were also exposed, with six aided hostels identified as “fake” due to being locked or under construction without any staff or students. These non-functional hostels received Rs 1.62 crore in public funds, indicating a misuse of resources. The report criticized the state for unutilized funds and the failure to provide hostel facilities to thousands of students in need.
The audit further highlighted operational failures, such as hostels running without superintendents and male appointees in girls’ hostels. The state’s plan to establish 500 government hostels by 2020 fell short, with only 443 in place by then. Delays in construction have hindered the government’s efforts to improve student welfare, as observed by the CAG.
