Ashram hostels in Naxal-affected districts are in a bad condition. It has been said that more than 250 ashram hostels are in a shabby state even now.
The sexual exploitation of girls in the Ashram hostels of Jhalimari in Kanker district has been in the news and the guilty in this case has been punished also. Dozens of children are lodged in a single room of the Ashram hostel. After the issue of sexual exploitation of girls in Bijapur and Narayanpur, pressure on the Government has been mounted for the construction of all-facility hostels.
Concern over the security of children had been expressed in the Assembly also. It was said that the speed of construction of all-facility ashram hostels was very low. The work could not be started at various places because of insurgency and other reasons. In most of the places, the responsibility of construction of ashram hostels has been given to the PWD.
According to sources, in naxal-affected districts Bijapur, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Sukma, Kanker, Kondagaon and districts of Sarguja division, construction of ashram hostels has been going on at snail’s pace. looking to the security of girls, the Government gave emphasis on the early construction of the buildings, but the process is going on at low speed.
It has been said that responsibility of construction of about 250 buildings had been given to PWD and RES, out of which 41 works are yet to be started. 164 buildings are under construct.
Similarly, RES had been given the responsibility of construction of 82 buildings, out of which 44 works have not yet been started, only 38 building works are in progress. Fund for construction of six buildings has been given to PWD, but none of these works has been completed so far. Tribal Welfare Department has been constructing 93 buildings with its own resources, but none of these works has been completed so far.
Housing arrangement for female superintendents would be made available in these buildings. However, the government has taken some steps for the security of these hostels. Women police have been deployed, besides some other steps for security, but these steps are considered to be not enough.